Bad weather strands passengers

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines  – Some 30 passengers bound for the Babuyan strait and the coastal towns of Isabela were stranded in Appari, Cagayan as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) prevented their boats from sailing.

PCG Aparri head Sr. Chief Petty Officer Ernesto Renon said the cold front spawned big waves dangerous to all kinds of sea crafts.

The passengers have been stranded since Thursday.

Authorities also warned residents along river banks and mountain slopes to be on alert for possible floods and landslides amid continuous rains brought by the northeastern monsoon.

This developed as the PCG called off the search for the crew of Chungdu -1, which sank off the strait last week.

Renon said the PCG will tow the ill-fated Chinese cargo vessel reportedly carrying over two tons of black sand quarried from the Cagayan mainland of Aparri, as soon as the sea has calmed.     – Raymund Catindig, Charlie Lagasca