MANILA, Philippines - At 12:00 a.m. 01 February 2014, Tropical Storm "BASYANG" was estimated based on all available data in the vicinity of Naga City, Cebu (10.0°N, 123.8°E).
At least 5,000 people have been stranded in various ports in five regions due to the tropical storm.
This developed as the state weather bureau raised yesterday storm warning signal No. 2 over several areas in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said around 3,000 passengers from four ships in Metro Manila going to the Visayas and Mindanao were not allowed to sail.
Meanwhile, 1,184 passengers were also reported stranded in Central Visayas – 580 in Dumaguete, 407 in Tagbilaran, and 197 in Cebu.
Another 363 passengers were also stranded in Surigao, 243 in Cagayan de Oro, 32 in Ozamis, 52 in Butuan, 187 in Masbate and 82 in Ormoc.
The PCG said there were 97 stranded vessels, 77 rolling cargoes, 11 motorized boats, and six ships and one boat taking shelter.
But Balilo assured the public that the PCG is on alert. “Our vessel safety inspectors are on the lookout for ships that would defy orders not to set sail. We also have rescue teams that are ready to be deployed and give assistance during flooding on land and also to immediately respond to vessels in distress,” he said.
The PCG’s four search and rescue ships are currently in the Visayas.
Basyang intensified further and accelerated as it moved westward toward Eastern Visayas and the Caraga region yesterday afternoon, bringing strong winds and heavy rains, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
As of 5 p.m. yesterday, signal no. 2 was hoisted over Iloilo, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Siquijor, Guimaras, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran Island and Camotes Island.
Also placed under signal no. 2 were Camiguin, Dinagat province, Surigao del Norte, Siargao Island, northern part of Surigao del Sur and northern part of Agusan del Norte.
The weather bureau said Basyang was expected to make landfall over Southern Leyte-Surigao del Norte last night or early today.
The agency also hoisted signal no. 1 over Masbate, Palawan, Calamian Group of Islands, Northern Samar, Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, rest of Agusan del Norte, rest of Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, northern part of Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga del Norte.
Weather forecaster Chris Perez said these areas would continue to experience stormy weather until today.
He warned residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signals against possible flashfloods and landslides, while those living in coastal areas under signal no. 2 were alerted against storm surges as high as one to two meters.
The storm was predicted to dump moderate to heavy rains (five to 15 millimeters per hour) over areas within its 400-kilometer radius, he said. (From Philstar.com)