9,500 passengers stranded in Bicol ports – PNP

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – The number of stranded passengers in different seaports in Bicol rose to more than 9,500 on Saturday morning.

As of 5 a.m., authorities counted 7,202 stranded at the Matnog port in Sorsogon; 2,003 in Albay; 402 in Camarines Sur; and 12 in Masbate.

Trucks, passenger buses, and light vehicles were likewise stranded.

Chief Insp. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, PNP Bicol spokesperson, said 14 ships remained docked in Sorsogon; nine in Masbate; three in Catanduanes; and one in Albay.

Flooding was reported in 34 villages in Sorsogon; 11 in Camarines Sur, 4 in Naga City and 2 in Albay.

The Cadong bridge in Caramoan town and the Presentacion road all in Camarines Sur were not passable due to flooding.

Police said 939 people were evacuated in Albay; 574 in Sorsogon, 83 in Catanduanes, and 70 in Camarines Sur.

A total of 499 evacuation centers were set up in Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Masbate, Albay and Naga City.

A report from the Office of Civil Defense said that as of as 8 p.m. Friday, one lane of a provincial road in Viga town, Catanduanes, was passable. The spillway in Barangay Himaglacon in Lagonoy, Camarines Sur, was not passable to all kinds of vehicles.

Authorities recorded 113 houses submerged in flood in Barangay San Buenaventura and Sta. Justina in Buhi town, Camarines Sur, affecting 23 families.

In San Andres, Catanduanes 18 families were evacuated to safer grounds.

In Sorsogon City, waist-high flooding was reported in Purok 7 Barangay Pamurayan. /cbb