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TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has suspended sea travel in some parts of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar provinces as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 in some areas due to Tropical Depression Kristine.
In a notice to mariners issued Monday, PCG stations in two Samar provinces said all sea vessels plying the route within the northeastern portions of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar are prohibited from leaving ports.
These towns are Laoang, Palapag, Mapanas, Gamay, Catubig, and Lapinig in Northern Samar; Jipapad, Arteche, San Policarpio, and Oras in Eastern Samar.
Mainly affected are travels going to island communities in the northeastern portion of two Samar provinces.
‘All vessels are reminded to take precautionary measures and be extra vigilant in monitoring the movement of typhoon if deemed to be affected by said weather disturbance. The voyage of vessels will resume until further notic
e and upon improvement of weather and sea condition,’ the PCG said in its notice.
In its 11 a.m. forecast, PAGASA said Kristine has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph. It was last tracked 870 km east of Eastern Visayas.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 was hoisted over Catanduanes, Masbate including Ticao Island and Burias Island, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte, and the eastern portion of Quezon in Luzon.
The same wind signal was raised over Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Biliran, and Southern Leyte in the Visayas; and Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, including Siargao in Mindanao.
Meanwhile, the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) canceled sea travels from Cebu to different ports of destination in Leyte due to Kristine.
The port authority canceled trips to Ormoc starting Monday noon and the 2 p.m. travel to Hilongos.
It also canceled the travel to Calbayog which was supposed to depart Cebu City port at 5 p.m.
Also c
anceled was the trip from Maya Port in the northern town of Daanbantayan to Matnog Port in Sorsogon.
Another trip canceled by the authority was bound for Dipolog City, Maasin and Surigao. (With a report from John Rey Saavedra)
Source: Philippines News agency
