511 travelers stranded as Bising affects Eastern Visayas, Bicol

More than 500 passengers have been stranded at ports in Eastern Visayas as Typhoon Bising brings moderate to heavy rains over the region, as well as in Bicol,  Office of Civil Defense regional director said Sunday.

"Marami pong stranded. As of now, we have 511 passengers; 249 rolling cargoes; four vessels and additional 12 vessels that are taking shelter," said Lord Byron Torrecarion, OCD Region VIII regional director on Super Radyo dzBB.

To help stranded individuals, Torrecarion said the Philippine National Police will provide free rides to service them.

Also, Torrecarion said they are "already experiencing some rains" since last night, while they monitoring reports on flooded areas.

"As of this time, wala pa kaming nare-receive na reports any incident [flooding];  we are also monitoring and we are awaiting reports from our LGUs," he added. 

Meanwhile, the city government also prevented sea travel due to the typhoon based on Philippine Coast Guard monitoring efforts, he said.

Likewise, Torrecarion said the Department of Social Welfare and Development readied 14,994 food packs for evacuees.

He said they also implemented preemptive evacuation, especially those living near the coast of Eastern and Northern Samar, which are under Signal No. 2. 

Aside from Samar areas, Catanduanes is also placed under Signal No. 2.

At 4 a.m. this weekend, Bising was last spotted 400 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar or 470 kilometers east of Juban, Sorsogon. —LBG, GMA News