125 passengers left stranded in ports of Bicol, Batanes due to ‘Odette’

More than a hundred passengers were stranded in different ports in Bicol and Batanes on Saturday as tropical storm Odette (international name: Khanun) continue to unleash heavy rains over northern and central Luzon.

This development came after light sea vessels including motorized boats were advised not to sail due to heavy rains, high waves and strong winds.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard, 125 passengers have been stuck in the ports of Camarines Sur and Batanes.

As of 3 p.m., about 108 passengers have been stranded in Pasacao Port, Camarines Sur.

The rest were stranded in Batanes: 14 passengers and two motor boats in Sabtang Port while three passengers and three motor boats in San Vicente port.

Tropical storm Odette would continue to bring heavy rains and thunderstorms in northern and central parts of Luzon as it has remained almost stationary as of Saturday afternoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Administration Services said in its latest weather bulletin.

The bureau warned that sea travel remained risky over the seaboards of northern Luzon, the western seaboard of Central Luzon, and western and southern seaboards of southern Luzon because of the tropical storm.

Tropical storm Odette was last seen 315 kilometers west of Sinait, Ilocos Norte.

The storm is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility Saturday evening. /jpv