13,000 stranded in various ports

MANILA, Philippines—More than 13,000 passengers were stranded in various ports in the Philippines as tropical storm “Ofel” (Son-tinh) made landfall in the southwestern part of Masbate and Sibuyan island early Thursday morning, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Thursday.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said in an interview over Radyo Inquirer 990AM that they were continuously monitoring vessels, small or big, in ports of the areas affected by “Ofel.”

All vessel have been advised to refrain from going out to sea once public storm Signal Number 1 has been raised, Balilo said.

At least 14 areas in Luzon and Visayas were under storm signals raised. As of 11 a.m. Thursday, Batangas, Lubang Island, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Romblon were under storm signal number 2.

Metro Manila, Bataan, Southern Quezon, Burias Island, Masbate, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, and Calamian Group of Islands, were under public storm signal number one, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration.

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