‘Salome’ dumps heavy rains in south Luzon

RAINED OUT Girl scouts and teachers attending a jamboree in Guinobatan town, Albay province, use a tarp to protect themselves from rains dumped by Tropical Depression “Salome.” —MICHAEL B. JAUCIAN

LEGAZPI CITY—The state weather bureau on Thursday raised tropical cyclone warning signal No. 1 in parts of southern Luzon and the Visayas as a low pressure area off Northern Samar intensified into Tropical Depression “Salome.”

The provinces of Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Romblon, Marinduque, Quezon (southern area), Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte and Biliran were placed under tropical cyclone signals, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

As of 4 p.m. Thursday, Pagasa said Salome was at 65 kilometers southwest of Pili, Camarines Sur, and was moving toward southern Quezon and Marinduque.

Local governments in the Bicol, Calabarzon and Mimaropa regions suspended classes as Salome, accompanied by strong winds, dumped heavy rains.

The inclement weather also prompted the cancelation of boat trips in Batangas, stranding 735 passengers at the Batangas City port and in Nasugbu, according to a report from the Philippine Coast Guard.

Boats and cargo vessels were also stopped from sailing at ports in Batangas City and in the towns of Mabini and Balayan.

All boat trips from Calapan City port were also suspended by city disaster risk reduction and management office.

The number of stranded passengers in Bicol ports reached 705, according to the regional Office of Civil Defense. Reports said 465 passengers on their way to Samar province were stranded at Matnog port in Sorsogon.

All flights to and from the airports in Albay, Camarines Sur and Masbate had been canceled at 11 a.m. on Thursday. —REPORTS FROM MAR S. ARGUELLES, REY ANTHONY OSTRIA, MADONNA T. VIROLA, MARICAR CINCO, JUAN ESCANDOR JR., DELFIN T. MALLARI JR. AND FRANCES G. MANGOSING