Thousands stranded in ports nationwide amid Tropical Depression Basyang

Almost 6,000 passengers were stranded in ports nationwide due to the effects of Tropical Depression Basyang.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview on Friday, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Noemie Cayabyab said that their continuous monitoring yielded a total of 5,835 stranded passengers in 84 ports.

“As per data po, sa may Western Visayas [ang pinakamaraming stranded], particularly sa Iloilo. Mayroon po doon 1,292 na stranded passengers po. Ang rolling cargoes po natin is 2,238 ang stranded po,” she shared.

(As per data, it's in Western Visayas, particularly in Iloilo. There were 1,292 stranded passengers there. We also have 2,238 stranded rolling cargoes as well.)

Cayabyab said that they are currently following protocols by suspending operations or trips in areas that still have wind signals.

“Kung ang panggagalingan, dadaanan, at pupuntahan ay may nakataas na signal, definitely suspended pa rin po ang sea travel, pero kung nawala naman na po 'yan at wala na din po masyadong malakas na alon sa area definitely we allow them po na umalis na din po sa pantalan,” she added.

(If the origin, route, and destination have a signal raised, definitely our sea travel will be suspended but once it is gone and there’s no strong current in the area, definitely we allow them to depart from the ports.)

She also said that some passengers in other ports, such as Bredco Port in Bacolod City and Larena Port in Siquijor, were evacuated to shelters due to strong winds and seas.

“Fully assisted ang mga kababayan na nastranded sa mga pantalan,” she said.

(Our fellow countrymen who are stranded in ports are fully assisted.)

Meanwhile, she called on the public to forego any sea trips while the tropical depression is still active. —Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News