400 Passengers Stranded in Cebu Port as PCG Bars Ships From Sailing Due to ‘Onyok’

More than 400 passengers were stranded in the Cebu port Friday after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) barred seven vessels from leaving because of tropical depression “Onyok” and the gale warning raised over Eastern Visayas.

Cebu Coast Guard Station commander Agapito Bibat said the vessels were bound for some provinces in Mindanao and Ormoc City in Leyte.

But Bibat said only 59 of the stranded passengers remained at Terminal 1 of the Cebu port because most passengers decided to get refund for their tickets and went home.

Bibat said the grounded vessels which were supposed to be bound for Mindanao were the MV Filipinas Dumaguete bound for Surigao City, MV Filipinas Iligan for Ozamis City and Iligan City, MV Filipinas Butuan for Nasipit in Agusan del Norte, MV Trans Asia 10 for Cagayan de Oro City and MV Trans Asia 8 for Iligan City.

These areas were still under Storm Signal No. 1 because of Onyok, which is expected to make landfall Friday night in Surigao area.

Bibat said they have to ground vessels below 250 gross tons bound for Ormoc because the weather bureau also issued a gale warning over the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas on Friday.

Those grounded were the MV Wesam Express 7 for Ormoc City and passenger motorbanca CA Christopher from Pulangbato Wharf in Bogo City, Cebu bound for Ormoc City. (PNA) LAP/EB/RSM