1,802 passengers stranded in 6 Bicol ports

LEGAZPI CITY – The Office of Civil Defense said a total of 1,802 passengers including 18 trucks, 29 small vehicles, five passenger buses and seven vessels were stranded in the ports of Pasacao in Camarines Sur, Tabaco port in Albay, Virac port in Catanduanes, Legazpi City port, Pio Duran in Albay and at Matnog port in Sorsogon.

Alejandro Bernardo, OCD regional director, said small vessels plying those ports were not allowed to travel by the Coast Guard due to rough seas which is dangerous to small vessels.

Inclement weather brought by northeast moonson and a prevailing cold front was characterized by strong wind, cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers.

Alejandro said that continuous heavy rain in Sorsogon province for the past days had triggered a landslide along the national highway in Barangay Gadgaron in Matnog town at about 8:30 p.m. Friday.

Although the loosened earth and boulders blocking the highway were already removed, Matnog Mayor Guillermo So fears that heavy rains could easily trigger another landslide in the area. – Celso Amo