Thousands stranded in ports due to 'Agaton'

MANILA- Thousands of passengers are stranded in different ports across the country as Tropical Depression Agaton continues to dump heavy rains.

A total of 3,061 passengers are stuck in ports across Northern Mindanao, Eastern Visayas, and Central Visayas, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Tuesday.

"Maaari po siguro sa ngayon, kung di po talaga kayo makakatuloy sa biyahe, magbigay abiso na po kayo sa inyong pamilya, sa inyong opisina para po malaman po nila na kayo po ay isa sa mga na-stranded sa ating mga naturang pantalan dahil sa bagyong ito," said Mina Marasigan, spokesperson of the NDRRMC.

(If you cannot really travel, advise your families and employers so that they are aware that you are among those stranded due to the storm.)

In Dapitan City alone, around 600 passengers bound for Dumaguete and Cebu are stranded at Pulauan Port due to the storm.

Evening trips since Monday night were cancelled after tropical cyclone warning signal no. 1 was hoisted over Zamboanga del Norte.

Aside from stranded passengers, Marasigan also noted that a total of 611 families have been pre-emptively evacuated in the provinces of Capiz, Zamboanga del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Dinagat Islands.

Tropical Depression Agaton which barrelled through parts of Visayas and Mindanao dampened New Year's Day revelries and is expected to exit the Philippine area of Responsibility on Wednesday afternoon. -with a report from Dynah Diestro, ABS-CBN News