By Betheena Unite
Thousands of passengers were stranded in various ports in the country on the eve of Christmas due to typhoon “Ursula,” the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.
Philippine Coast Guard (MANILA BULLETIN)
A total of 23,789 passengers were reported stranded in several port terminals in Bicol, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Southern Tagalog, Northern Mindanao, Western Visayas and Southern Visayas as of Tuesday afternoon.
Operations of 3,253 rolling cargoes, 46 motorbancas, and 157 vessels were also temporarily suspended as of 12 noon Tuesday while 86 vessels and seven motorbancas took shelter due to the weather condition.
Most of the stranded passengers were monitored at the Port of Matnog in Sorsogon, where a total of 10, 454 individuals were prevented to travel due to the weather disturbance in the area.
Typhoon “Urusula,” according to the weather state bureau, will continue to dump occasional and frequent heavy rains in Sorsogon and other provinces in Luzon and Visayas, affecting the travel of many passengers in ports like Masbate, Cebu, Iloilo, Antique, Aklan, Misamis Oriental, Negros Occidental, Southern Leyte, Northen Samar, Batangas, Mindoro, Romblon, and Quezon.
According to the PCG, all their units will ensure the strict implementation of the guidelines on the movement of vessels during heavy weather to ensure the safety of lives and properties at all costs.
The organization also encouraged passengers to comply with the safety and security measures at port terminals and vessels, and to report any suspicious individual or occurrence to authorities manning the Department of Transportation’s Malasakit Help Desk for appropriate action.