The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday said 4,631 individuals-including passengers, truck drivers, and cargo helpers-were stranded in 55 ports across the country due to Tropical Depression Wilma.
In its bulletin, the PCG said that from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. on December 5, it had monitored 55 ports across Southern Tagalog, Northeastern Mindanao, Southern Visayas, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and Central Visayas.
Based on PCG’s data, 1,484 vessels, 45 motorbancas, and 26 rolling cargoes were stranded, while 107 vessels and 53 motorbancas were taking shelter due to Wilma.
In a separate bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Wilma may make its initial landfall or pass close to Eastern Visayas or Dinagat Islands on Friday evening or Saturday morning.
Wilma is forecast to move west-southwest until Saturday before continuing to traverse the Visayas until December 7. It is then expected to emerge over the Sulu Sea and may pass over northern Palawan by the morning of December 8.
Pagasa said Wilma will likely remain a tropical depression throughout the forecast period