The number of stranded Luzon-bound passengers in Allen, Northern Samar rose to 2,334 Tuesday noon as authorities continue to impose sea trip cancelations in the province due to high waves brought about by Super Typhoon Egay. The Philippine Coast Guard in Northern Samar said the rising number of stranded passengers is a result of the cancelation of trips of seven ferries now docked at the Allen port since early Monday. Aside from passengers, there are also 412 stranded trucks, buses and cars. Northern Samar provincial disaster risk reduction management office (PDRRMO) chief Rei Josiah Echano said in a phone interview that the local government of Allen town have been providing food packs to affected passengers taking shelter inside the Allen ferry terminal building. ‘Although the state weather bureau lifted the tropical cyclone wind signal in Northern Samar and other parts of Samar, ferries are not allowed to sail since Sorsogon is still under tropical cyclone wind signal number 1. Northern Samar is also experiencing strong winds today,’ Echano told the Philippine News Agency (PNA). The PDRRMO reminded all vessels to take precautionary measures and be extra vigilant in monitoring the movement of the typhoon if deemed to be affected by the said weather disturbance. The voyage of vessels will resume until further notice and upon improvement of weather and sea conditions. The Matnog ferry terminal in Sorsogon is the exit point from Luzon to Eastern Visayas while Allen port in Northern Samar is the region’s entry from Luzon. These ports form part of the northeastern seaboard nautical highway that links the country’s three major island groups — Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. For decades, roll-on roll-off ferries cross the San Bernardino Strait, carrying passengers and vehicles to and from Northern Samar ports and Matnog port in Sorsogon. With 28 kilometers, the average travel time is one hour and 30 minutes. As of Tuesday noon, the center of the eye of Super Typhoon Egay was estimated based on all available data at 270 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. It has maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph
Source: Philippines News Agency