988 stranded in Matnog, Tabaco

LEGAZPI CITY — At least 988 passengers were stranded at the Matnog and Tabaco City ports in Sorsogon and Albay, respectively, as tropical depression "Henry" battered the Bicol region yesterday.

"Henry" continued to move west-northwest at 7 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center.

Public storm warning signal no. 1 was raised over the Camarines provinces, Albay, Sorsogon, and Catanduanes yesterday.

Capt. Rodolfo Isorina, the new Coast Guard commander for Bicol, said some 800 passengers bound for Samar, Leyte and parts of Mindanao were stranded at the Matnog port. The rest were in Tabaco.

Twenty small vehicles, 20 passenger buses and three vessels were stranded in Matnog, and one truck, three passenger buses and two vessels bound for Virac, Catanduanes in Tabaco City.

Lt. Nelson Torre, Coast Guard commander here, did not allow six vessels and five motorized bancas to sail due to rough seas and strong winds.

"Henry" is forecast to be at 110 kilometers southeast of Casiguran, Aurora this afternoon. - Celso Amo