1,700 passengers stranded in Iloilo, Aklan ports due to `Quinta’

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

ILOILO CITY—Trips of sea vessels from the ports of Iloilo and Caticlan in Aklan were suspended Wednesday morning due to tropical storm “Quinta” stranding around 1,700 passengers.

The Coast Guard station in Iloilo reported that 1,654 persons were stranded as of 10 a.m. after 20 vessels were not allowed to leave port.

Lt. Cmdr. Dominador Senador, Coast Guard Iloilo station commander, said travel of fast craft vessels between Iloilo and Bacolod cities was suspended Wednesday after Panay and Guimaras islands were placed under storm signal no. 1.

Trips of motorboats plying between Iloilo and Guimaras continued but the number of passengers was limited to 75 percent of the maximum capacity of motorboats.

In Caticlan, Aklan, 48 passengers of roll-on, roll-off vessels (Roro) remained stranded as of Wednesday morning.

Lt. Cmdr. Terence Alsosa, commander of the Coast Guard station in Malay in Aklan, said six Roro vessels and two fast craft boats temporarily took shelter at Looc Bay in Romblon, around 10 miles from Caticlan.

Motorboats plying between Caticlan and Boracay Island were allowed as of 10 a.m. Wednesday but were also limited to 75 percent of the maximum passengers allowed. Trips will only be until sunset but will be suspended if the weather conditions worsen, Alsosa said.

Water sports and island-hopping activities in Boracay were called off and the swimming of tourists was being closely monitored, he said.

Rosario Cabrera, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense, said operational centers of provincial disaster risk reduction and management councils (PDRRMCs) were activated in preparation for the storm.