(Updated, 5:10 p.m.) Over 4,500 passengers and 400 sea vessels were left stranded as tropical depression “Crising” moved closer to Samar during the morning of Black Saturday.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said 4,525 passengers and 379 rolling cargoes were stranded in four Coast Guard districts as of Saturday noon.
These are the Coast Guard district of Central Visayas, which covers Cebu and Tagbilaran; the Coast Guard district in Bicol which covers Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate and Camarines Sur;
The Coast Guard district of Eastern Visayas which covers Ormoc and Catbalogan, and the Coast Guard district of Western Visayas which covers Iloilo and Bacolod.
There were also 35 sea vessels and 11 motorbancas stranded due to the strong waves from the tropical depression, the PCG said.
A report from the PCG also said that 104 were stranded in Batangas port and 30 in Oriental Mindoro. Also
stranded in ports were 22 rolling cargoes.
Captain Julius Caesar Victor Marvin Lim, coast guard district commander in Southern Tagalog, said trips bound to Romblon are suspended until the typhoon signal is lifted. Signal number 1 is hoisted over Romblon province due to Crising.
PCG spokesperson Commander Armand Balilo said they could not compromise the safety of passengers even though many will be travelling back to their homes after Easter Sunday.
“We really cannot do anything about it because we cannot compromise their safety,” he said.
Balilo advised passengers returning to their homes to stay put until the state weather bureau has lowered the public storm warning signals.
The Coast Guard district of Central Visayas was the most affected by “Crising,” with 2,007 passengers, 45 rolling cargoes, 15 vessels and three motorbancas stranded by the strong waves.
The Coast Guard district of Eastern Visayas came in next with 1,067 passengers, 107 rolling cargoes, four vessels and one motorbanca affected by the bad weather.
The PCG added that ports in Albay, Sorsogon and Camarines Sur have canceled trips due to “Crising.” With a report from Maricar Cinco in San Pedro, Laguna
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