‘Dindo’ strands 4,700

LEGASPI CITY — Some 4,772 passengers were stranded in various ports in Bicol as typhoon "Dindo" threatens the region and the Samar provinces.

"Dindo" was estimated at 170 kilometers east-northeast of Catarman, Northern Samar at 4 p.m. yesterday.

Capt. Antonio Lalisan, acting Bicol Coast Guard commander, said some 4,000 passengers were stranded at the Matnog port in Sorsogon.

Three ferry boats were also not allowed to sail to Allen port in Samar due to the bad weather.

In Tabaco City, Albay, some 350 passengers were also stranded. Ten passenger ships there were also not permitted to leave.

The rest of the stranded passengers were in the ports of Virac (Catanduanes), Bulan and Pilar (Sorsogon) and Masbate City. — Celso Amo