Storm signals in Visayas, Mindanao downgraded as ‘Gorio’ moves to Luzon

Over 10,000 people were stranded in various ports in the Visayas, Bicol and Caraga regions when ferry crossings and some airline flights were cancelled as tropical storm “Gorio” moved northwest as it made landfall over Eastern Samar yesterday.

According to the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), a total of 1,784 sea transport passengers were stranded in Cebu as of 6pm.

In an earlier advisory, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Central Visayas District said at least 2,491 passengers were affected in Cebu as of noon yesterday after the local coast guard station grounded at least 15 vessels, including one bound for Manila.

The stranded passengers were in Piers 1, 3, and 5 in Cebu City; Pulangbato wharf in Bogo City; Hagnaya Wharf in San Remegio; Sta Fe in Bantayan; Danao City and Camotes Islands, said Ensign Cecille Romero, deputy commander of the PCG Cebu Station.

Northern Cebu, including Bantayan and the Camotes Islands, were among the areas placed under Signal No. 1 because of “Gorio” yesterday.

Storm signals were downgraded in the 6 p.m. advisory.

The grounded vessels were bound for Manila, Surigao City, Leyte, Calbayog in Samar, Masbate, Hilongos in Southern Leyte, Cataingan in Masbate, Bato and Ormoc City in Leyte.

The MV Pope John Paul II which was supposed to leave Cebu City’s Pier 5 at 9 p.m. on Friday for Manila, was barred from leaving because Signal No. 1 had been hoisted in Manila. The vessel was to also pass by Masbate, which was under Signal No. 2.

The 1,061 passengers of the Manila-bound ship stayed inside the vessel but some passengers who were at the port terminals left after being told the vessels would not be allowed to sail.

Romero said ships sailing to Bohol and other areas not affected by the storm continued to ply their routes but small bancas at the Pasil fishport bound for Bohol were not allowed to sail because of big waves.

In Bogo City stranded passengers were evacuated to the Pulangbato Elementary School.

Flight cancellations

At least seven flights to and from the Mactan Cebu International Airport were cancelled due to bad weather.

They included PAL Express 2P 237 flight from Tacloban to Cebu at 6:40 a.m.; Cebu Pacific’s 5J 172 for Legazpi City at 8:30 a.m.; 5J 441 from Masbate at 8:25 a.m.; Zest Air Z2 765 from Manila at 10 a.m. and Z2 766 for Manila at 10:35 a.m.

Gemma Imbang, a terminal operations assistant, said PAL Express flights to and from Caticlan were also cancelled at 10:30 a.m. due to an aircraft situation, not due to the storm.

PAL Express flight 2P 971 from Manila to Tacloban City was diverted to Mactan at 7:30 a.m. because of bad weather in Tacloban. The plane returned to Manila. At least four flights were delayed because of the storm.

STORM TRACK

“Gorio” made landfall in Hernani town, Eastern Samar at 8 a.m yesterday.

As of 4 p.m. “Gorio” was spotted 40 kilometers southeast of Legazpi City in Albay . It is expected to be 60 kilometers northwest of Iba in Zambales province this morning after passing Metro Manila.

Festival cancelled

“We just experienced light rains. We’re glad the typhoon did not result in any destruction in our town,” Hernani, Eastern Samar Mayor Edgar Boco said in a telephone interview.

Floodwaters in Tacloban were .04 meters to .045 meters deep, according to the Tacloban City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.

Yesterday morning’s street parade of the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals was canceled due to the storm. The parade was part of the celebration of Tacloban’s fiesta on June 30. / with reports from Joy Cherry Quito and Michelle Joy L. Padayhag