Coast Guard: ‘Basyang’ leaves 3,135 people stranded in Luzon

At least 3,135 passengers in various areas in Luzon were stranded due to big waves and strong winds spawned by Typhoon Basyang (Conson) as it lashed Luzon, an official of the Philippine Coast Guard said early Wednesday. PCG commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo also said that search and rescue operations are ongoing for at least 19 fishermen in Bicol who were earlier reported missing. "Ito [stranding] ay dahil sa mga barko na di natuloy ang pagbiyahe (Passengers have been stranded because ships were barred from leaving port due to the typhoon)," Tamayo said in an interview on dzBB radio. Under Coast Guard guidelines, all ships are barred from leaving port under Storm Signal No. 2. Under Signal 1, ships below 1,000 gross tons are not allowed to leave port. Citing reports as of 3 a.m. Wednesday, Tamayo said the 3,135 stranded passengers include 589 in North Harbor, and 1,468 in South Harbor in Manila. Also stranded were 439 in Batangas, 150 in Lucena, 35 in Mindoro, 76 in Puerto Real, 389 in Tabaco (Albay), and five in Pasacao. Tamayo said 17 trucks and 292 rolling cargoes were also stranded. Meanwhile, Tamayo said search-and-rescue vessels are still on a mission for the 19 fishermen in Catanduanes province in Bicol. He said these include eight who were on their way back to Pandan in Catanduanes but could not return on time; and 11 whose boat capsized in Bagamanoc. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV