(UPDATE) 'Auring' strands thousands in ports
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 01/04/2009 8:32 PM
Printer-friendly version | 
Send to friend | 
Share your views
Thousands of people were stranded in several ports in Visayas and Southern Luzon after the Philippine Coast Guard cancelled sea travel Sunday due to stormy seas enhanced by Tropical Depression "Auring".
In Allen, Northern Samar, 6,352 people were reported stranded at Looc and Dapdap ports together with 95 light vehicles, 102 buses, 84 trucks and six passenger vessels.
In Southern Leyte, 210 passengers were stranded at the Liloan Port. Also inside the port area were seven light vehicles, three buses, six trucks and four passenger vessels.
In Virac, Catanduanes, 115 passengers were reported stranded while in Pasacao in Camarines Sur,186 passengers were stranded.
Some of the passengers were bound to Visayas and Mindanao. The others were on their way to Manila.
Among those stranded were Constancia Sabundo and her three grand sons. She said she only has P300 remaining in her pocket and that they still have to buy food.
"Binigyan na lang kami ng [port officials ng] biskwit kaya sana tulungan kami," she said.
Most of the passengers were occupying the ports’ holding areas while the others remained contented in sleeping inside their buses. Several others more were forced to sleep on the floor inside the sea terminals.
Meanwhilein Albay province, sea travel resumed Sunday after some passengers were stranded for two days due to rough seas but some 400 passengers were reported still waiting for their ferries to take them to their destinations.
‘Auring’ weakens, heads north
Weather Bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said "Auring" has slightly accelerated as it continues to move northward.
PAGASA said that as of 11 pm, Auring was spotted 130 kilometers southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar. The tropical depression has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and is moving north at 11 kilometers per hour.
It is expected to be at 310 kms northeast of Catarman, Northern Samar Monday evening and 450 kms northeast of Virac, Catanduanes by Tuesday.
Storm Signal Number 1 is hoisted over Eastern Samar.
PAGASA alerted residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes in Eastern Samar against possible flashfloods and landslides.
PNRC, Red Cross 143 aid 5,000 families
The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), meanwhile, said it has evacuated and aided nearly 5,000 families who were rendered homeless by Auring.
Reports reaching the PNRC National Headquarters Operation Center in Port Area, Manila late Sunday said there were floodings in the provinces of Negros Oriental, Bohol and Samar in the Visayas; and Zamboanga del Norte, Iligan, Cagayan de Oro and Gingoog City in Western Mindanao.
In Iligan City, Red Cross 143 volunteers conducted rescue operations and transported evacuees to the evacuation centers; put up community kitchen this afternoon to feed people in the evacuation centers.
Over in Bohol province, as of Saturday, five barangays were given relief goods after flash floods in six barangays were reported by Red Cross 143 volunteers.
In Dumaguete City, started giving relief goods to the affected four barangays wherein 12 houses were destroyed.
In Zamboanga del Norte, the Red Cross Chapter provided “community kitchen” for the 147 evacuees in Dipolog City and is on stand by for any possible disaster incidence.
The PNRC said some of the families already returned home after the floods subsided.
With a report from Jose Cerretero, ABS-CBN Bicol
