LEGAZPI CITY -- The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol said 1,045 passengers have been stranded in Bicol ports as of 9 a.m. Friday, October 14, after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) suspended sailing of sea vessels due to rough weather brought by Tropical Storm Karen.
OCD-Bicol Director Bernardo Alejandro, quoting a PCG report, said the port in Albay has 621 people stranded, Sorsogon has 343, Catanduanes has 20, and Masbate with 61.
He added that there were also 37 buses, trucks and cars and 10 sea vessels stranded in the ports.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Karen will bring moderate to heavy rains in areas within its 400-kilometer diameter.
Pagasa said fisherfolk should not venture out to the eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon and over the northern and eastern seaboards of Eastern Visayas because of high waves.
Alejandro said there are 28,700 family food packs and 1,500 sacks of NFA rice available at the warehouse of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in its regional office in Legazpi City.
Non-food items such as 258,137 pieces of malong, 2,836 rolls of laminated sacks, 1,830 pieces of plastic mats, 1,784 mosquito nets and 1,784 blankets are also available and ready for distribution anytime. (PNA)