Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 25) — Some 9,000 passengers, drivers, cargo helpers and their cargoes and motorbancas were left stranded on Tuesday as Super Typhoon Egay hit parts of Luzon and the Visayas.
Over 100 vessels and 61 motorbancas also took shelter in Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Southern Tagalog, Central Luzon, and Metro Manila due to rough sea conditions brought by strong rains and winds.
Roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel Starlite’s 123 passengers bound for Batangas, meanwhile, had to stay overnight at the Caticlan Jetty Port after their trip was canceled Monday night. Eighty-seven passengers bound for Boracay also failed to cross to the island after boat trips were canceled due to bad weather.
The Malay Municipal Disaster Risk and Management Council said it has coordinated with the local government unit and the Municipal Tourism Office to assist the stranded passengers.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), 73 vessels and 63 motorbancas are taking shelter in Bicol ports with around 6,171 stranded passengers.
“Considering the public storm warning signals are still hoisted over those areas where they are stranded, they’re going to stay there for the night and sana hanggang ngayong gabi na lang (hopefully just until tonight), we cannot compromise their safety,” PCG spokesperson Armand Balilo told CNN Philippines’ The Final Word.
State weather bureau PAGASA said it has been in close coordination with affected local government units and the PCG to ensure the safety of the passengers.
