Over 5,000 passengers stranded in ports due to TD Samuel – PCG

Over 5,000 passengers were stranded in various ports nationwide due to Tropical Depression Samuel, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported on Tuesday.

According to the PCG's 4 p.m. update, 2,096 passengers were unable to travel by sea from six Bicol region ports..

In the Central Visayas 1,282 people were stranded. Similarly  1,058 travelers in the Southern Visayas and 869 in the Eastern Visayas were left ashore.

The trips of 661 passengers from two ports in Manila and Pasig were also cancelled, as well as those of 482 passengers in Southern Tagalog ports.

Meanwhile, in Northern Mindanao, 25 passengers were stranded in a port. Ten rolling cargoe and 15 vessels were also prevented from venturing into the sea.

Samuel is expected to make landfall on the southern portion of Eastern Samar between 12 a.m. and 2 a.m. on Wednesday.

PAGASA advised the fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts not to venture out over the areas under Signal No. 1, as well as the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon. — Dona Magsino/DVM, GMA News