Ports closed due to #OnyokPH

MANILA, Philippines – Operations in at least 20 ports have been suspended on Friday, December 18, as Tropical Depression Onyok speeds up. Onyok is expected to make landfall over Davao Oriental on Friday night, the state weather bureau PAGASA said.

“Sea travel is risky over the seaboards of Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Visayas due to big waves generated by the surge of the northeast monsoon,” PAGASA warned.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the ports that have been temporarily shut down include those in the following areas:

• Cebu
• Tagbilaran
• Dumaguete
• Puerto Princesa
• El Nido
• Brooke’s Point
• Coron
• Aparri
• Cagayan de Oro
• Surigao
• Ozamis
• Iligan
• Dapitan
• Butuan

The NDRRMC warned against traveling via these ports.

At least 4,500 passengers, 109 rolling cargoes, 38 vessels, and 15 vessels were stranded in various seaports Friday afternoon, the PCG said in a report to NDRRMC. Meanwhile, at least 11 vessels and 18 motorbancas took shelter due to rough seas.

According to the NDRRMC, the PCG units are implementing the guidelines on movement of vessels during heavy weather. 

The PCG noted that “deployable response groups (DRGs), floating assets, and all necessary response equipment are on standby for possible dispatch.” – Rappler.com