Stranded passengers, vehicles in Matnog port evacuated

MATNOG, Sorsogon—Stranded passengers and vehicles at Matnog Port in Sorsogon were evacuated Friday afternoon due to the threat of storm surge expected to be spawned by typhoon “Ruby.”

Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Division Manager Medardo Adille said the evacuation was ordered around 3:30 p.m. after regional directors of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) inspected the port.

Adille said that only 11 vehicles are parked in the port but clarified that these are media vehicles.

He said the stranded passengers, trucks, buses and other private vehicles were evacuated in holding areas in Sorsogon City and the towns of Irosin and Juban.

“The port is unsafe during typhoons,” he said, adding that port operations may resume after three to five days or once the public storm signal is lifted in the province.

As of Friday evening, the entire province of Sorsogon is still under public storm signal number 2.