More than 5,000 stranded due to Basyang

MANILA, Philippines – More than 5,000 passengers were stranded Friday afternoon, January 31, in 10 ports in Metro Manila, Bicol, the Visayas and northern Mindanao, due to bad weather caused by Tropical Storm Basyang.

They are passengers of 97 sea vessels, 77 RORO (roll on/roll off) ships, and 11 motorized bancas that were not allowed to sail, according NDRRMC executive director Eduardo Del Rosario.

The Philippine Coast Guard said the bulk of the stranded are 3,035 passengers who were supposed to leave Manila on Friday.

Below is the list of stranded passengers in ports outside Metro Manila:

Central Visayas

• Cebu – 197
• Tagbilaran – 407
• Dumaguete – 580  

Eastern Visayas

• Maasin- 82 

Bicol

• Masbate- 187

Northern Mindanao

• Cagayan de Oro – 243
• Surigao – 363
• Ozamis – 32
• Butuan – 52

State weather bureau PAGASA reported in its latest update at 11 am Friday, that Tropical Depression Basyang has intensified into a tropical storm and is continuing to move towards the Leyte-Caraga area. At least 13 areas are now under Storm Signal No 2.

Basyang is expected to make landfall over Southern Leyte to the northern tip of Surigao del Norte by late Friday evening or early Saturday morning, February 1. It is expected to be in the vicinity of Naga City, Cebu by Saturday morning.

Officials in Surigao del Norte already ordered forced evacuation in high-risk areas. – Rappler.com