‘Ofel’ strands some 2,500 passengers stranded in Bicol ports

Satellite image as of October 25, 2012, 12:57 PM. Screengrab from https://noah.dost.gov.ph/

LEGAZPI CITY – At least 2,500 passengers were stranded in various ports across Bicol after storm signal number one brought on by tropical storm “Ofel” was raised over the region and the rest of Southern Luzon, the regional Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported Thursday.

Power supply in Masbate City has also been down since Wednesday evening as a result of the storm, said the bulletin released by OCD regional director Raffy Alejandro.

The Philippine Coast Guard in Bicol has also prevented the departure of at least a dozen ferries and roll-on-roll-off (Roro) vessels from leaving Bicol’s ports, stranding 85 trucks, 44 buses and 45 cars, the OCD report said.

Sea travel between Batangas to Mindoro island was also suspended, stranding over a hundred passengers in the Batangas City port.

In Albay, the provincial disaster risk reduction management council (PDRRMC) headed by Governor Joey Salceda suspended classes in the elementary and secondary levels as precautionary measures, even as preparations were being made over possible flooding in low lying areas in the province.

All Cebu Pacific flights to and from Legazpi for Manila and Cebu were also suspended, the OCD said.