Hundreds of passengers stranded: “Santi” grounds ships from Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Even while tropical storm “Santi” already weakened yesterday morning, still more than 1,000 passengers were stranded in ports in Cebu after the Philippine Coast Guard grounded vessels bound for areas under storm signals.

PCG Cebu Station Commander Weniel Azcuna said that as of 3 p.m., there were 1,192 stranded passengers in Cebu.

Those grounded vessels included MV Pope John Paul II, which was bound for Manila carrying 921 passengers, and the MV Starcraft 3, which was supposed to depart for Tubigon, Bohol with 165 passengers.

Other grounded vessels were MV Braquel bound for Tagbilaran with 86 passengers and MV Super Shuttle Ferry bound for Masbate with 20 passengers.

Azcuna said some vessels that were bound for areas not under a storm signal voluntarily cancelled their trips due to rough seas.

On Friday, the PCG grounded MV Don Carlos Sr., which was bound for Manila, while four smaller vessels in other ports in Cebu called off their scheduled trips.

Azcuna said the vessels will only be allowed to travel once the storm signals are lifted.

Based on the new directive of the Department of  Transportation and Communications, vessels bound or coming from an area under a typhoon signal would automatically be grounded regardless of their size.

Prior to the new directive, the PCG grounded vessels depending on their tonnage and the corresponding number of the storm signal.

As of 11 a.m. yesterday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said "Santi" already weakened and was estimated to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this morning.

"Santi" made landfall Friday night in Aurora province and crossed Central Luzon yesterday.

Based on the report of the Office of the Civil Defense, the typhoon already claimed at least 13 lives and four people were reported missing.

The strong winds and heavy downpour cut power supply in 37 cities and towns across Central Luzon.

Bracing for "Tino"

Tropical storm "Tino" may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Monday morning, the state weather bureau said yesterday.

PAGASA said that as of 4 p.m., the storm was estimated at 1,510 east of Northern Luzon.  "It is expected to enter the PAR by Monday morning," the weather bureau said.

PAGASA said "Tino" would be the 20th cyclone to enter the PAR this year.

The 20th cyclone immediately follows Typhoon "Santi," which has left five people dead in Central Luzon.

The typhoon hit land on Friday night, crossed Central Luzon and then exited through Zambales.

As of this posting, the typhoon was already over the West Philippine Sea and it was forecast to exit the PAR by Sunday afternoon. — With Philippine Star News Service/LPM (FREEMAN)