PCG: 5,400 people stranded at North Port Passenger Terminal due to Kabayan

About 5,400 people were stranded by canceled trips at the North Port Passenger Terminal in Manila on Monday due to Tropical Depression Kabayan, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. 
 

These were passengers on various vessels that  were scheduled to depart for the cities of Cebu, Butuan, Tagbilaran and Cagayan de Oro. 

The passenger ferries remain in Manila while they wait the signal for safe sailing amid the inclement weather. 

PCG Rear Admiral Armando Balilo also visited the North Port Passenger Terminal on Monday morning to check on the conditions of the stranded passengers. 

Davao

In Davao, all trips of vessels and watercraft, regardless of their gross tonnage, were also suspended due to Kabayan.

This included island hopping activities plying the routes of Coast Guard Station Davao.

“Special areas” such as Km 11, Sasa Barge Wharf and DAVSAM Ferry Terminal were exempted from the suspension.

“In this connection, all ships/watercrafts and fisher folks particularly in Davao City and Davao Del Sur are advised not to venture out over the coastal/vicinity waters, to avoid any maritime incident and for everyone’s safety,” Coast Guard Station Davao said in a statement.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 is currently raised over Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao City, and the northern portion of Davao Oriental (Baganga, Manay, Caraga, Tarragona, Lupon, Banaybanay, Boston, Cateel), among other areas, because of Kabayan.

Cebu

In a 24 Oras report on Monday,  sea travel temporarily ceased in the island province of Cebu after all scheduled trips were cancelled after Tropical Cyclone Signal No.1 was raised.

In Cebu City,  the storm left hundreds of passengers stranded in Pier 1. Among them were 100 members of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines that came from Iloilo en route to Surigao.

The PCG said around 1.295 passengers were stranded after 34 sea vessels were prohibited from sailing in the Central Visayas.

Also denied permission from leaving ports were 200 rolling cargoes.

The coast guard said it is strictly monitoring fishing boats and small craft from leaving the docks.

Meanwile, 12 flights from Mactan Cebu International Airport to Siargao, Surigao, Ozamis City and back were canceled.

Affected passengers were advkised to coordinate with their respective airlines.

The whole province has been placed under Blue Alert status after Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No.1was declared due to Kabayan.

Leyte and Southern Leyte

Based on OCD monitoring, around 454 passengers were stranded in these provinces after 9 passenger vessels and 157 rolling cargoes were prohibited from leaving port.

Leyte, Southern Leyte and some parts of Eastern Samar were placed under Signal No.1.

—RF, GMA Integrated News