Thousands stranded by storm

CEBU, Philippines - Almost 3,000 passengers were stranded in different ports of Cebu yesterday as storm warning signal number one Assistant station commander Cecille Romero of the Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu station said that a total of 2,922 passengers were stranded after their trips have been cancelled because of Tropical Storm Gorio.

Romero said that the figure was based on the reports received by them from Pier 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and the Ports of Bantayan and Hagnaya. The passengers were bound for Surigao; Leyte; Cawayan, Masbate; Cataingan, Masbate; Hilongos, Leyte; Baybay, Leyte; Ormoc; Bato, Leyte; and Manila.

The PCG has grounded a total of 15 passenger vessels, six rolling cargoes, and two motor bancas. Romero said the cancellation of trips will depend on the advisory of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA).

“Mag-reresume lang po pag na-downgrade na ang PSWS na i-re-report ng PAG-ASA,” Romero said.

However, as of 5 p.m. yesterday, Pagasa did not anymore include Cebu in the list of areas under public storm signal warning.

PAGASA placed Metro Manila under storm signal no. 2, as well as the provinces of Masbate with Ticao and Burias Islands, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Marinduque, Quezon (including Polilio Island), Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Batangas, Laguna, Cavite and Bataan.

Storm signal no. 1 was hoisted over Catanduanes, Romblon, the Mindoro provinces (including Lubang Island), La Union, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Aurora.

Gorio (international codename Rumbia) made a landfall in Hernani town, Eastern Samar shortly before noon yesterday and continues to threaten 18 areas in Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon. It is expected to hit Metro Manila today as it continues to move in a northwest direction.

PAGASA forecaster Ricky Fabrigas warned residents in Metro Manila to stay indoors.

He said Gorio might pass directly over Metro Manila or its vicinity and this would trigger “stormy weather” with low-lying areas under threat of flashfloods and landslides.

The storm packed maximum winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, PAGASA said Gorio was estimated at 40 kilometers southeast of Legazpi City, Albay, moving northwest at a speed of 24 kph.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) warned these areas of possible flashfloods and landslides since Gorio has a 300-kilometer range that is expected to dump moderate to heavy rainfall.

The estimated volume of rainfall is between 5 and 15 millimeters per hour, which is classified as moderate to heavy, within the 300-kilometer diameter of the storm.

Initial reports said heavy rains dumped by Gorio led to a landslide that blocked a highway in Barangay San Pablo, Naval, Biliran while flooding hit the road in Barangay Capokpok, Tabango in Leyte.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or injuries.

Malacañang, on the other hand, said it has readied P6.9 million worth of emergency relief resources.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the government started its assessment of the preparedness of these areas with the entry of the new storm.

With the storm directly threatening Metro Manila, the NDRRMC has raised its alert status to blue since Friday, placing all its rescue and disaster teams on standby.

The PCG reported that a Vietnamese ship anchored in Legazpi, Albay, which has been placed under the custody of the Bureau of Customs on suspicions of rice smuggling, has drifted and ran aground during the storm.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or injuries but residents were warned not to go near the ship.

A total of 21 flights have also been cancelled, most going to and from the Bicol and Visayas regions.

Power was also cut off for several hours in some areas in Northern and Eastern Samar after the Palanas Cara-Catarman 69-kVlLine of the Northern Samar Electric Cooperative tripped at 2:19 a.m. yesterday. Power was restored before 7 a.m. yesterday.

The Catarman-Bobolosan 69-kV line, which services portions of the Northern Samar Electric Cooperative, also tripped off during heavy rains. Power supply has been restored in some areas, with repairs now being done.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said the power loss was caused by affected transmission facilities of the company or distribution facilities of local utilities or electric cooperatives.

Gorio also caused the Wright-Taft-Borongon-MacArthur 69-kV line of the Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative Inc. to trip at 7:30 a.m. yesterday with maintenance crew still conducting line inspections to restore power.

PAGASA said Gorio is expected to be 60 kms northwest of Iba, Zambales after passing Metro Manila this morning.

By Monday afternoon, Gorio would be 560 kms northwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur and out of the Philippine area of responsibility, heading toward southern China. –/FPL (FREEMAN)