Passengers were stranded in major ports in Bicol as tropical depression "Dante" slowly moves closer to Legaspi City, before noon Saturday.

ABS-CBN Bicol reported that nearly 2,000 passengers bound for the Visayas and Mindanao were stuck in Matnog and Pilar ports in Sorsogon province.

In Camarines Sur, 32 passengers were forced to stay at Camaligan port and 15 more passengers were stranded in Bulan.

At the Tabaco City port, about 203 passengers were advised that ferry ships were waiting for the weather to improve before their trips resume.

Severla vehicles and small boats and dozens of passengers were also prohibited from leaving the Masbate port.

Meanwhile, areas in the third district of Albay province were flooded due to continuous rains brought on by the tropical depression.

The provincial disaster coordinating council have started evacuating residents in the flooded areas.

Weather bureau PAGASA said "Dante" has maintained its strength and has moved closer to Legaspi City as of 10 a.m. Saturday.

The weather bureau said "Dante" was 70 kilometers east southeast of Legaspi City, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour. It was "almost stationary," said PAGASA.

Signal No. 1 remained hoisted over Camarines Norte, Albay, Masbate and Sorsogon. Other provinces under the storm warning signal were Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Burias Island, Northern Samar and Quezon.

PAGASA said residents living in low lying areas in the affected provinces should be on alert for flashfloods and landslides. With a report from Jose Carretero, ABS-CBN Bicol