18 fishermen missing due to ‘Jolina’ — PCG
AN official of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday said 18 fishermen are missing as Tropical Storm Jolina continues to move northwestward over mainland Masbate.
“We are verifying reports that 12 fishermen went missing in Sierra, Western Samar; four in Motiong, Samar; and two in Catbalogan,” PCG Spokesperson Commodore Armando Balilo said in a Viber message to reporters.
Aside from the missing fisherfolk, “Jolina”, which weakened from a typhoon into a several tropical storm, has affected a total of 1,946 passengers, drivers, and cargo helpers in ports in Eastern Visayas and Bicol regions.
As of 12 p.m. Tuesday, the PCG said a total of 1,441 passengers, drivers, and cargo helpers as well as three vessels and 515 rolling cargoes were stranded in the Sta. Calara, Balwarteco, Dapdap, Liloan Port Ferry Terminal, San Ricardo, and Calbayog in Eastern Visayas.
In Bicol region, 505 passengers, drivers, and helpers along with 14 vessels and 161 rolling cargoes were affected by “Jolina”.
In preparation for possible necessary evacuation or rescue, PCG Station Catanduanes has also readied deployable response groups.
“Patuloy ang pakikipag-koordinasyon ng PCG sa lokal na pamahalaan at Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) para makapagbigay ng agarang aksyon tungo sa kaligtasan ng mga residente (The PCG continues to coordinate with the local government and MDRRMO to provide immediate action for the safety of the public),” the PCG said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said “Jolina” made a third landfall in Dimasalang, Masbate on Tuesday afternoon, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 15 kph.
The typhoon was last seen moving west northwest at 15 kph. Philippine News Agency
