Tropical Depression ‘Auring’ strands passengers in Leyte Island

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 9 (PNA) -– At least 1,269 passengers in various ports in Leyte and Southern Leyte have been stranded as of Monday morning after the Philippine Coast Guard suspended sea travel due to Tropical Depression Auring.

These Surigao-bound and Cebu-bound passengers have been stranded since Sunday afternoon after the state weather bureau raised storm warning signal number 1 over southern part of Leyte, some parts of Mindanao and Central Visayas.

Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Director Edgar Posadas reported that travellers are on board of 154 trucks, buses, and light cars. These passengers are supposed to take roll-on roll-off ferry or fast craft trips on Sunday and Monday.

Stranding have been reported in San Ricardo and Liloan ports in Southern Leyte for Surigao-bound and Bato and Ormoc City ports in Leyte for Cebu-bound.

“We expect that number of stranded passengers will increase since there’s still storm warning signal in Southern Leyte and Mindanao,” Posadas said.

Meanwhile, the provincial government of Southern Leyte announced on Sunday night the suspension of classes for pre-elementary, elementary and secondary schools as a precautionary measure. Tanauan, Leyte also suspended the classes on Monday.

Since there is no storm warning signal in Leyte province, the Department of Education said there is no automatic suspension of classes, but it’s up to the local government to declare cancellation in their respective areas.

Citing field reports, Posadas said all Eastern Visayas provinces have been experiencing cloudy skies and light to moderate rains.

Auring made its second landfall in Ubay, Bohol early Monday morning, according to the state weather bureau’s 8 a.m. weather advisory on Monday.

The tropical depression was in the vicinity of Talibon, Bohol, moving west at nine kilometers per hour (kph).

The tropical depression still has maximum winds of up to 45 kph and gustiness of up to 75 kph.

Auring made its first landfall over Siargao Island on Sunday afternoon. (PNA)
LAP/SARWELL Q. MENIANO