Tropical depression strands nearly 1,000 passengers in three Bicol ports

April 15, 2017

Almost 1, 000 passengers were stranded after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised a public storm warning  signal as Tropical Depression Crising is expected to hit land over Samar province late Saturday afternoon. As of 8 am, the Philippine Coast Guard recorded a total of 962 passengers, 10 vessels, four motor boats and 146 rolling cargoes in the ports of Albay, Sorsogon and Camarines Sur. In a television interview, Commander Armand Balilo, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman said trips were suspended in the affected areas starting around 7 pm Friday. “These numbers would probably increase as there are some more who would be traveling using sea,” Balilo said. “As a matter of procedure, we lift the suspension once PAGASA lifts the warning signal over the area. However we give some discretion to the station commander  if the current situation would not still be safe for travelers,” he added. As of 2pm, Tropical Depression Crising was last spotted at 130km of Guian, Eastern Samar with maximum sustained winds of up to 45 kph and gustiness of up to 55 kph while moving west northwest at the speed of 20kph and central pressure of 1,000 hectopascals. The state weather bureau placed the areas of Sorsogon, Burias Island, Romblon, Masbate including Ticao Island all in Luzon, as well as Aklan, Antique, Ilo-ilo, Capiz, Northern Cebu, Northern Negros Occidental, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte and Southern Leyte under signal number one. State weather forecaster Aldzar Aurelio said based on forecasts; Crising was expected to weaken into low pressure area before it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility on the side of the West Philippine Sea. In its weather bulletin, PAGASA warned moderate to occasionally heavy rainfall may experience within the 250 km rain diameter of Crising. The state weather bureau warned areas under signal number one for possible landslide and flashfloods. Based on its forecast position, Crising is expected to be at 45km northwest of Roxas City, Capiz by Sunday morning then at 305 km west-northwest of Coron, Palawan by Monday, at 330 km west of Iba, Zambales by Tuesday and at 265 km west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur by Wednesday morning. (Robina Asido/DMS)