Stranded passengers in Sorsogon finally leave port after five days

Passengers at Matnog Port in Sorsogon were finally able to leave after five days of staying ashore due to Tropical Depression Urduja (Kai-Tak), according to a report by Oscar Oida on Unang Balita on Monday.

Urduja did not directly affect Sorsogon. The province recorded no floodings or casualty but had to hold 5,000 passengers due to the cyclone's effect on the waters around the province.

Stranded passengers had to wait in stagnant conditions, use nearby grassy fields for relief, and stay in the port's facilities without showering.

Matnog Port loaded passengers, light vehicles, and commercial buses onto its boats first. Truck drivers will be loaded at a later time.

Urduja had a greater effect in Biliran, where 26 were killed and 23 went missing due to landslides and flooding caused by Urduja.

The cyclone was downgraded from a tropical storm to a tropical depression as it moved above the Samar Sea on Sunday morning. —Rie Takumi/KG, GMA News