719 stranded in Bicol due to ‘Paeng’

LEGAZPI CITY — At least 719 passengers, seven trucks, five small cars, 18 passenger buses and 10 vessels were stranded yesterday morning in six ports in the Bicol region, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

Sea travel was suspended in the ports of Tabaco City, Virac, Sabang in Camarines Sur, and in Pio Duran and Pasacao in Albay after tropical storm "Paeng" has intensified and threatened central and southern Luzon.

Public storm warning signal No. 1 was hoisted over the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte and signal No. 2 in Catanduanes.

Lt. Commander Nelson Torre, Legazpi and Tabaco City Coast Guard commander, said 560 passengers, four trucks, four small cars, four passenger buses and five vessels were stranded at the Legazpi City port. Passengers at the Virac port went home after sea travel was suspended although 14 passenger buses, three trucks and six small vehicles remained.

There were also 97 passengers stranded at the Pasacao port, 25 passengers at the Sabang port, and 37 passengers at the Pio Duran port in Albay.

The M/V Calixta 3, M/V Eugene Elson, M/V Calixta 2, M/V Jeric Jay, and M/V Erson Menard were not allowed to sail at the Tabaco City port as well as the M/V Star Ferry 1 at the Virac port.

Vessels stranded at the Legazpi City port include the M/V Fernando Salvad, Ricky Rey, Parang Transport, and F/B Rog Elio.

Tropical storm "Paeng" was estimated at 170 kilometers east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes yesterday morning and is expected to move on to Aurora province. It will be 180 kilometers west-northwest of Baguio City by Tuesday morning. — Celso Amo