Albay bans small sea craft from sailing amid gale warning

Albay province (Google maps)

LEGAZPI CITY – The Albay provincial disaster council on Sunday told local fishermen along the province’s eastern seaboard not to sail or go fishing following a gale warning by the local weather bureau.

Cedric Daep, chief of the Albay Public Safety Emergency and Management Office (APSEMO), said they notified the various disaster agencies to strictly enforce a sailing ban, especially on fishing boats and small sea vessels. These should not to venture off because big waves could sweep them to the open seas of the Pacific Ocean.

Affected by the no-sailing policy are the coastal towns of Rapu-rapu, Manito, Sto. Domingo, Bacacay, Malilipot, Malinao, Tiwi and the cities of Tabaco and Legazpi.

Daep said he also warned large sea vessels plying the routes Tabaco-Catanduanes to be on alert against big waves caused by strong winds prevailing there.

The weather bureau on Sunday issued a gale warning stating that the seaboards of the Camarines provinces, Catanduanes, eastern coast of Albay, Sorsogon and Northern Samar would experience 52-63 kilometers per hour wind force with waves of 3.5-4.5 meters high. /cbb