BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Close to 200 Manila-bound passengers were stranded at the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. (Bredco) port yesterday.
The Philippine Coast Guard suspended sea travel due to typhoon “Ulysses” (international name: Vamco).
Captain Eduardo De Luna, PCG-Southern Visayas district commander, said the stranded passengers consisted of 133 originating from Bacolod and 50 from Iloilo.
Aside from passengers, three rolling cargoes and 144 container vans were also stranded at the Bredco port.
The PCG-Bredco sub-station agreed to let the stranded passengers board the vessel instead of waiting at the terminal area.
They said the vessel will only be allowed to sail once the tropical cyclone warning signals in the ship’s route and destination are lifted.
Yesterday afternoon, “Ulysses” – the 21st cyclone to hit the Philippines this year – pounded the southern and central areas of Luzon, including Metro Manila causing major flooding.
Tens of thousands of homes in low-lying suburbs were inundated, prompting residents to climb on rooftops awaiting rescue.
In some suburbs east of Manila, residents took refuge in their flooded homes.
Nearly three million households in and around Manila were without power as people waded through waist-high floods, carrying valuables and pets.
The typhoon is forecasted to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility today./PN
