Stranded passengers due to 'Kristine' climbs to 7,000

MANILA, Philippines — Around 7,000 passengers have been stranded in ports across Luzon and Visayas due to inclement weather brought by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami), the Philippine Coast Guard said on Wednesday, October 23.

In an advisory, the Philippine Coast Guard also reported that 111 vessels, 22 motorbancas and over 1,000 rolling cargoes have been stranded across 103 ports as of Wednesday noon. 

The 7,000 stranded individuals as of Wednesday morning is more than double the 3,000 reported the day before.

The PCG provided a breakdown of the affected regions: 

State weather bureau PAGASA has placed Metro Manila, Northern and Central Luzon, along with most of Bicol and Calabarzon under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 as Kristine continues to dump heavy rains before making landfall.

Kristine is expected to intensify into a severe tropical storm and make landfall over Isabela on Wednesday evening.