OCD: 1,560 Bicol port passengers stranded due to Amang

More than a thousand passengers were left stranded in various ports in the Bicol Region due to the effects of Tropical Depression Amang, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 5 said Wednesday.

OCD Region 5 public information office chief Gremil Nas said that moderate to heavy rains were experienced in Albay this morning, while the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDDRC) issued a red rainfall warning in Camarines Norte.

“Sa ngayon wala namang reported damage dito sa ka-Bicolan pero ang pag-ulan ay talagang nararamdam pa rin dito sa amin. Nag-result ito hanggang ngayon ng standees sa iba’t ibang ports sa Ka-Bicolan na umabot sa 1,560 katao,” Nas said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(So far there are no reported damage in Bicol due to Amang, but the rain is still pouring here. This has resulted to 1,560 standees in various ports in Bicol.)

Several areas, including all provinces in the Bicol Region, are currently under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 due to Amang.

On Tuesday, the Philippine Ports Authority enforced cancellations of trips in the following ports:

• Baseport Legazpi (Albay)
• Port of Tabaco (Albay)
• Port of Pio Duran (Albay)
• Port of Pasacao (Camarines Sur)
• Port of Virac (Catanduanes)
• Port of San Andres (Catanduanes)
• Port of Bulan (Sorsogon)
• Port of Matnog (Sorsogon)

Nas said that sea trips in Bicol ports are still suspended within the day.

He also said their office has also received flooding reports through social media.

“We’re hoping na sana wala ring major untoward incidents since kahapon ay talagang maulan na. Kagabi ay talagang maulan na rito sa Bicol,” Nas added.

(We're hoping there won't be any major untoward incidents because it’s been raining since yesterday. Rain was really pouring here in Bicol last night.) — Giselle Ombay/RSJ, GMA Integrated News