MANILA, Philippines – A total of 13,505 passengers were stranded in various ports in the country, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Thursday.
The passengers were stranded as tropical storm 'Ofel' hovers over southern Luzon and Visayas.
Meanwhile, 85 trucks and cars, 300 rolling cargoes, 127 vessels and 54 motorboats were also stranded in the ports.
As of 7 a.m., Ofel was located over the western side of Tablas Island, Romblon.
It was moving west-northwest at 20 kph. PAGASA forecaster Cris Perez said with this speed and direction, Ofel is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday evening.
Fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas due to rough sea conditions.