Over 2,000 passengers stranded in Bicol ports

LEGAZPI CITY — More than 2,000 passengers were stranded in the ports of Matnog, Bulan and Pilar, all in Sorsogon, yesterday as tropical storm "Caloy" roared through the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas, the Coast Guard said.

As of yesterday morning, Capt. Luis Tuason Jr., Coast Guard’s Bicol head, said 2,006 passengers bound for Allen, Samar were stranded at the Matnog port.

Four ferry boats — M/V Princess Mayon, M/V Melvin Jules, M/V King Frederick and M/V Hansel Jovet — were also stuck in Matnog, waiting for the Coast Guard’s go-signal to sail.

At the Pilar port, 140 passengers bound for Masbate City were stranded, and 37 others at the Pilar port.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has raised public storm warning signal no. 2 over Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes, and the Camarines and Samar provinces.

Cedric Daep, head of the Albay provincial safety and emergency management office, alerted local disaster management groups to brace for the onslaught of "Caloy," which was packing winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center.

Daep also directed local officials to closely monitor possible flash floods in the third district and landslides in Manito, Sto. Domingo and Tiwi towns.

"Caloy" is expected to be at 200 kilometers north-northwest of Catarman, Samar or 80 kilometers west of Virac, Catanduanes this afternoon.