”Quinta” strands thousands in Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Eastern Visayas

October 25, 2020

Thousands were stranded as Tropical Depression ''Quinta'' intensified into a severe tropical storm on Sunday.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as of 8 am, a total of 1,215 persons including passengers, truck drivers, and cargo helpers were stranded in Southern Tagalog, Bicol, and Eastern Visayas.

The PCG also recorded 649 rolling cargoes; 50 vessels; and 10 motorbancas stranded in the same regions because of the weather disturbance.

“The PCG Command Center is on 24/7 nationwide monitoring to strictly implement guidelines on the movement of vessels during heavy weather,” the PCG said.

Coast Guard districts, stations, and sub-stations across the country are on standby to respond on emergency situations, in coordination with local government units and disaster response teams, it added.

As of 10 am, ''Quinta'' was spotted at 180 km east of Virac with maximum  winds of 95 kph and gusts of up to 115kph while moving westward at the speed of 25kph.

State weather forecasters raised Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal Number 2 over Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate including Burias and Ticao Islands, the central and southern portions of Quezon (Mauban, Sampaloc, Lucban, Dolores, Candelaria, Tiaong, San Antonio, Sariaya, Tayabas City, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Atimonan, Perez, Alabat, Calauag, Quezon, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Lopez, Pitogo, Plaridel, Gumaca, Unisan, Agdangan, Padre Burgos, Macalelon, Catanauan, General Luna, Buenavista, San Narciso, Mulanay, San Andres, San Francisco), Batangas, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, and Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island all in Luzon and Northern Samar. Robina Asido/DMS