Over 7,000 passengers stranded in ports after Uwan tears through Luzon
MANILA, Philippines — More than 7,000 passengers, truck drivers and cargo helpers remained stranded across 156 ports nationwide Monday morning, November 10 as sea travel remains suspended amid the onslaught of Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong).
The Coast Guard's 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. monitoring — its latest available report — showed 7,213 people, 3,663 rolling cargoes, 171 vessels and 28 motorbancas stranded, while 541 vessels and 185 motorbancas took shelter across 11 regions.
Most stranded were in Bicol with 2,590 passengers stranded across 18 ports, followed by Central Visayas with 991 passengers across 26 ports and Western Visayas with 995 passengers across 13 ports.
Bicol's high numbers come as Uwan pounded the region the hardest in the last 24 hours with life-threatening winds and heavy downpour.
Uwan entered the Philippine area of responsibility late Friday night, November 7.
Travel suspensions to continue
Sea travel remains suspended under Coast Guard policy that only lifts restrictions once wind signals are lowered in departure areas, said Capt. Noemi Cayabyab, PCG spokesperson.
"The PCG's policy on suspending sea travel is it will only be lifted when there are no more wind signals raised in the area of origin," Cayabyab said in a radio interview. "Once that's clear, the next consideration of the PCG is the gale wind warning. If the waves and wind are strong in the middle of the sea, that's our reason for temporary suspension of sea travel."
A vessel that took shelter in Labrador, Pangasinan had its anchor chain snap, Cayabyab said. Coast Guard inspection found the ship empty of fuel with no risk of oil spill, and the vessel and crew safe.
"It ran aground, we're just waiting. When the weather improves and it's high tide, we'll refloat it," she said.
Cayabyab acknowledged the Coast Guard faces resource challenges covering the vast area affected by Uwan, but said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a whole-of-government approach to the disaster.
Uwan weakened further when it exited the Luzon landmass early Monday morning, but the state weather bureau has kept Signal No. 4 hoisted over 12 areas in Northern and Central Luzon.
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