More than 300 persons stranded in Bicol sea ports due to Ofel

A total of 312 persons, 72 trucks, six light vehicles, 35 sea vessels and 17 motorized boats were stranded in sea ports in the Bicol Region due to Tropical Depression Ofel.

According to the Office of Civil Defense Region V on Wednesday, 22 sea vessels and two motorized boats are also taking shelter in various ports in Bicol due to the heavy downpour.

As of 5 p.m. the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices in the region said 127 families with 611 persons were affected by Ofel.

The PDRRMOs also said that flooding was also experienced in flood-prone areas in the region due to continuous moderate to heavy rains.

As of 6 p.m., the region also recorded landslide events in Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Masbate.

The Department of Public Works and HIghways District Offices and local government units already conducted clearing operations as soon as the weather improved.

State weather bureau PAGASA said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is still raised over Batangas, Laguna and Quezon as Ofel heads toward Oriental Mindoro.

The center of the Tropical Depression was seen 35 kilometers north of Romblon, Romblon at 7 p.m. It is moving westward at 15 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.

PAGASA said Ofel will bring moderate to heavy, with at times, intense rains over CALABARZON, Camarines Norte, Marinduque, Romblon and Mindoro provinces.

Meanwhile, light to moderate, with at times, heavy rains will be experienced over Central Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, Metro Manila, Palawan, Cagayan, Isabela and the rest of Bicol Region due to Ofel and the southwest monsoon. -- BAP, GMA News