Due to ‘Crising’ and ‘habagat’
TACLOBAN CITY – A 25-year-old fisherman from Southern Leyte has been reported missing after venturing out to sea amid rough weather brought on by Tropical Storm Crising and the southwest monsoon (habagat).
Ray Mark Virtudazo, a resident of Barangay San Roque in Liloan town, left for a fishing trip around 3 p.m. on Thursday (July 17). However, he failed to return home later that day, prompting his mother, Esabel Virtudazo, to report his disappearance to the local police.
In response, personnel from the Liloan police substation launched preparations for a search and rescue (SAR) operation. Authorities have coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard Substation (CGSS) in nearby San Juan town and the Hinunangan municipal police to monitor their coastal areas for any signs of the missing fisherman or his white-colored motorized banca named Ray Mark.
Given the strong southwest monsoon affecting sea conditions, coastal communities in Southern Leyte have been urged to report any possible sightings of a drifting vessel or person.
Due to the adverse weather, the Philippine Coast Guard has suspended all sea travel across the province. The Coast Guard also reported that 660 passengers were stranded in the ports of San Juan, San Ricardo, Liloan, and Padre Burgos. A total of 224 rolling cargoes and three vessels were also affected by the suspension.
Meanwhile, classes in several areas across Eastern Visayas were suspended on Friday, as a precaution.
These include Calbayog City in Samar; the municipalities of Caibiran and Almeria in Biliran; Merida in Leyte; and San Francisco in Southern Leyte.
In Tacloban City, Vice Mayor Raymund Romualdez, city mayor officer-in-charge, has convened the city disaster risk reduction management office as part of the preparation for any adverse impacts of Crising to the city.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
