‘Basyang’ strands 2,700 in Visayas, Mindanao ports – Coast Guard

This satellite photo released by Pagasa on Tuesday morning, Feb. 13, 2018, shows rain brought by Tropical Storm ‘Basyang’ over parts of the Visayas and Mindanao. PAGASA IMAGE

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) announced on Tuesday that more than 2,700 passengers were stranded in various seaports in the Visayas and Mindanao as Tropical Storm “Basyang” continue to pose threat.

In its advisory, the PCG said that as of 4 a.m., a total of 2,704 passengers were stranded in ports in Surigao, Cagayan de Oro, Ozamiz, Iligan, Dapitan, Butuan, Western Leyte, Southern Leyte, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.

The coast guard added that 366 rolling cargoes, 62 vessels, and 2 motorbancas were stopped from traveling due to the weather disturbance.

PCG directed its units to strictly implement the guidelines regarding the movement of vessels during stormy weather.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) told fishing boats and other small seacraft to not venture over the affected seaboards. Large vessels, on the other hand, should remain alerted against big waves.

Conditions along the seaboards in the Visayas, and Northern and Eastern Mindanao will be rough to very rough with expected wave heights of 2.8 to 5.0 meters, the state weather bureau said. /cbb