Over 20,000 passengers stranded in ports over Usman

STRANDED. Passengers stranded at Cebu port because of Tropical Depression Usman. Photo from the Philippine Red Cross Twitter page

MANILA, Philippines – Over 20,000 passengers have been stranded in ports nationwide as of noontime Friday, December 28, due to Tropical Depression Usman.

The Philippine Coast Guard said a total of 20,357 passengers, 1,772 rolling cargoes, 120 vessels, and 21 motorized boats were stranded in different ports across the country after authorities kept vessels from sailing because of bad weather.

The PCG ordered all its units to ensure the strict implementation of HPCG Memorandum Circular Number 02-13 or Guidelines on Movement of Vessels during Heavy Weather.

Here is the breakdown of stranded passengers and vessels per area:

• National Capital Region-Central Luzon: 665 passengers and 4 vessels
• Central Visayas: 2,074 passengers, 102 rolling cargoes, 28 vessels, and 4 motorbanca
• Southern Tagalog: 3,479 passengers, 269 rolling cargoes, 7 vessels, and 2 motorbanca
• Western Visayas: 913 passengers, 91 rolling cargoes, 11 vessels, and 3 motorbanca
• Bicol: 7,793 passengers, 514 rolling cargoes, 25 vessels, and 4 motorbanca
• Eastern Visayas: 4,511 passengers, 554 rolling cargoes, 15 vessels, and 8 motorbanca
• Northern Mindanao: 118 passengers, and 14 rolling cargoes
• Southern Visayas: 804 passengers, 228 rolling cargoes, and 30 vessels

– Rappler.com