BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A passenger ship bound for Cebu yesterday returned to its origin port in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, after encountering strong waves, the Philippine Coast Guard said.
Following its departure from the port of San Carlos, the M/V Lite Ferry 2 of Lite Shipping Corp. bound for Toledo port in Cebu was battered by strong waves, and this prompted the ship captain to return to port for safety reasons, the PCG sub-station in San Carlos City, said.
The vessel, that was carrying rolling cargoes, docked safely at the port of San Carlos City.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday advised all city and municipal DRRM chairpersons on the Red Alert Status for “Auring” as it moves slowly over the Philippine Sea, east of Mindanao, an advisory from the Capitol said.
They are further advised to heighten preparedness, preparation of evacuation plan, and to take appropriate precautionary actions for possible flooding, flashflood, or landslides in their respective areas, it added.
“Auring” is moving westward at 15 kph, the weather bureau said in its 5 p.m. bulletin yesterday.
“Auring” now packs maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph. It was last tracked 405 kilometers east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.
Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 was hoisted over Southern Leyte, the southeastern portion of Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao City, Camiguin, the eastern portion of Misamis Oriental, and the eastern portion of Bukidnon.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecast light to moderate, with at times heavy rains over Caraga, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Norte.
Cagayan Valley, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, and Oriental Mindoro will experience rains, while Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon and the Visayas will have isolated light rains due to the northeast monsoon.
Strong breeze to near-gale conditions with occasionally higher gusts will continue over northern Luzon and the eastern section of central and southern Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, especially in coastal and mountainous areas.
Rough to very rough seas are still expected over the seaboards of Luzon, the Visayas, and the northern seaboard of Mindanao. Sea travel is risky for all types of sea vessels over these waters. Pagasa advised mariners of small seacrafts to take precautionary measures when venturing out to the sea.*with report from PNA
