LEGAZPI CITY – Nearly 100 passengers were stranded in three ports in the Bicol region due to tropical storm “Crising,” the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Friday.

PCG-5 (Bicol) commander Commodore Ivan Roldan said 64 passengers and 21 roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) ships were stranded at the Tabaco Port in Albay province and 27 passengers and 13 Ro-Ros in Virac Port and seven passengers in San Andres Port, both in Catanduanes province.

Four vessels were also stranded in Tabaco Port and three in Virac Port, where one boat is also seeking shelter.

"All vessel trips, regardless of type and tonnage, are suspended in the provinces of Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur, which are under tropical wind cyclone signal No. 1. Additionally, in Albay, all vessels heading to Catanduanes are also suspended. We are monitoring the situation and coordinating with other concerned agencies to ensure the safety of all passengers," Roldan said.

In Sorsogon province, the PCG advised vessels with a gross tonnage of less than three against traveling in and out of the waters.

"For Masbate, mariners operating medium-sized boats and other similarly sized vessels are strongly advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, to avoid navigation under these weather conditions," he said.

Roldan said the PCG is under red alert, with more than 400 personnel and land and water assets on standby.

The State weather bureau said Crising has intensified into a tropical storm, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

As of 4 a.m. Friday, the tropical cyclone was located 335 kms east of Echague, Isabela or 325 kms east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, moving northwest at 20 kph. (PNA)