Tisoy strands 2,700 passengers in Bicol ports

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — Typhoon Tisoy (international name: Kammuri) has stranded 2,719 persons in the Bicol ports as of Monday morning, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Bicol said.

Chief Petty Officer Nelson Jazo, sub-station commander of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Bicol in Matnog, Sorsogon said the 2,175 passengers were housed in the terminal while being served with relief goods by the local government unit.

“If the rains and winds intensify, we will transfer them to the neareast elementary school here,” Jazo said.

Jazo said 325 trucks, 89 light vehicles and 58 buses were lined up along the highway leading to the port, forming 2-3 kilometer stretch.

Barangay officials in the areas occupied by the stranded vehicles were commissioned by the LGU to cook food for the drivers and other passengers, he said.

Lt. Junior Grade Excelsior Abenoja, operations officer of PCG Bicol, said in a report that in Bulan and Pilar ports in Sorsogon, 163 passengers were also stranded.

In Albay, 278 passengers have been stuck in Tabaco City and Pio Duran, 22 in Camarines Sur and 81 in Masbate ports.

At least 62 rolling cargoes, 68 sea vessels and 26 motorboats were also stranded in ports.