Thousands of passengers stranded in seaports due to Kristine

Thousands of passengers were stranded in seaports as a gale warning was in put into effect due to the inclement weather brought by Tropical Storm Kristine, according to a report by JP Soriano on 24 Oras Tuesday.

At the North Port Passenger Terminal in Manila, a vessel with over 600 passengers was supposed to leave for Iloilo, Bacolod, and Cagayan. However, its 2 p.m. departure was canceled due to Kristine.

Some of the passengers left the port but some had no choice but to stay since they came from provinces and had no place to stay in Manila.

Shayne Sandigas Inosanto and her mother Felisa Sandigas traveled to Manila to see a specialist physician.

“Aantayin na lang talaga kasi malayo na po ‘pag bumalik na kami,” Inosanto said.

(We will wait because it's too far if we return to where we came from.)

“Dito na ang kami eh kung bumalik pa kami, wala na kaming pera pamasahe, sayang, ang gamit namin,” Sandigas Inosanto said.

(We will just stay here because we don’t have enough fare if we go back, it would be a waste. And there’s our belongings.)

Meanwhile, Romel Buhali traveled to Manila from Zamboanga. He was supposed to travel to Iloilo, where he works.

He said on his trip from Zamboanga to Manila yesterday, the ship encountered strong waves.

“Pag alis namin sa Zamboanga, maalon po kasi pagtapos namin kumain sa barko, medyo nasusuka na kami sa alon ba,” Buhali said.

(When we left Zamboanga, the current was strong. After we ate in the ship, we felt nauseous because of the waves.)

In Batangas Port, trips headed to Puerto Princesa and other parts of Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and other areas in the Visayas were canceled.

Some passengers said they were inconvenienced as the port prohibited them from entering despite their pleas.

Due to developments, the stranded passengers decided  to seek shelter at a stall.

In Del Gallego, Camarines Sur, vehicles were bumper to bumper as police and military checkpoints blocked the road.

The vehicles were supposed to travel to the Visayas, Masbate, and Catanduanes.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), over 3,000 passengers were stranded in 34 seaports. Cargo vessels and vehicles were also prevented from leaving ports.

In Manila, there were no announcements of resumption of sea travel since the priority of authorities is the safety of passengers.

They were moved to safer grounds in case the rain got stronger.

The passengers expressed concerns about their food and lodging, to which authorities said they were ready to help. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News