SEA TRAVEL BAN. A seaport in Allen town in Northern Samar. At least 513 passengers bound for Luzon are stranded in different ports in Northern Samar as the province remains under tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 due to Typhoon Ulysses (international name Vamco), the provincial disaster risk reduction management office (PDRRMO) reported Wednesday (Nov. 11, 2020). (Photo courtesy of Northern Samar Our Home)

TACLOBAN CITY – At least 513 passengers bound for Luzon have been stranded in different ports of Northern Samar as the province remains under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal no. 1 due to Typhoon Ulysses, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) reported on Wednesday.

The province’s major ports namely, Balwharteco, Sta. Clara, and Dapdap, are located in Allen town, with roll-on roll-off (RoRo) ferries that cross the San Bernardino Strait, carrying passengers and vehicles to Matnog port in Sorsogon.

PDRRMO head Rei Josiah Echano said 133 trucks and 58 light vehicles are also stranded, while some 10 sea vessels took shelter within their area of responsibility.

The Philippine Coast Guard has imposed a travel ban for all types of sea vessels and watercraft on Tuesday morning and will be lifted until weather and sea condition improves to avoid possible maritime accidents.

Other areas in the region under Signal No. 1 are the towns of Sto. Niño, Almagro, Tagapul-an. Tarangnan, Calbayog City, Sta. Margarita, Gandara, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, and Matuguinao in Samar, and Maslog, Dolores, Oras, San Policarpo, Arteche, and Jipapad in Eastern Samar.

As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, “Ulysses” was last tracked 100 km. north of Virac, Catanduanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 125 km. per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 155 kph.

It is moving west-northwest at 20 kph. (PNA)