'Ramon' strands over 4,000 passengers in 12 ports

MANILA, Philippines - Thousands were left stranded in seaports and airports in areas affected by tropical depression “Ramon,” officials said.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said more than 4,000 passengers were stranded in 12 seaports in the Visayas and Southern Luzon.

More than 4,000 passengers were stranded in seven provinces and Metro Manila.

Most of the stranded passengers are in the South Harbor and North Harbor in Manila with a total of 1,663 people, followed by the port in Batangas with 1,014 passengers.

Many of those stuck in Batangas were waiting for the go signal to travel to Calapan, Mindoro where 639 passengers are also waiting to depart for Manila.

The Coast Guard in Oriental Mindoro said more than 1,000 people have been stranded in two key sea terminals in the province, while some 321 families have been evacuated.

Landslides were also reported along the national highway in Oriental Mindoro’s northern and southernmost areas on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils and the regional Coast Guard said some 774 people and 90 vehicles bound for Batangas province are now stranded at the port in Calapan City.

This developed as Ramon moved away from the Philippine area of responsibility yesterday, but the state weather bureau said rains would continue to prevail over most parts of the country, including Metro Manila, until today.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) lifted the storm warning signal over Luzon areas as of 5 p.m. yesterday.

As of 4 p.m., the center of Ramon was spotted at 270 kilometers west of Metro Manila with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center.

It is forecast to move northwest at 19 kph and is predicted to be 450 km west of Vigan, Ilocos Sur this afternoon and 850 km west of Laoag City tomorrow afternoon.

PAGASA advised fishing boats and other small sea vessels against venturing out to sea while larger vessels are alerted against big waves.

Graciano Yumul, supervising undersecretary of PAGASA, said Ramon is expected to leave the country’s territory this evening and move toward Vietnam.

Yumul said mostly cloudy skies with rainshowers would still prevail over most parts of the country, including Metro Manila, until today.

He said improving weather condition is expected starting tomorrow until Sunday.

“We will experience clear skies in the morning and there is a possibility of light rains in the afternoon,” Yumul said.

Yumul said aside from Ramon, no other weather disturbance was monitored within and outside the country as of yesterday afternoon.– With Helen Flores, Juancho Mahusay, Celso Amo