More than 400 passengers were stranded in two major ports in Bicol as Tropical Depression "Ondoy" moved closer to the region before noon Friday.

The Office of Civil Defense in Bicol said 310 bus and motorized banca passengers were stranded at the Pasacao port in Camarines Sur and 110 more passengers were stranded at the Tabaco International Airport.

It said the passengers were bound for Catanduanes, which has been placed under public storm signal No. 1 by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) due to Tropical Depression Ondoy.

PAGASA said the disturbance was 180 kilometers east northeast of Virac town, Catanduanes province or 400 kilometers east southeast of Casiguran, Aurora as of 11 a.m.

Packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour, Ondoy was moving in the general direction of Central and Northern Luzon at a speed of 11 kilometers per hour.

The provinces of Aurora, Quirino, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur have been placed under public storm signal No. 1.

PAGASA expects the tropical depression to move near Aurora province by Saturday morning and then head near Baguio City on Sunday morning. With a report from radio dzMM