Storm cancels Western Visayas sea trips

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Several sea trips to and from major ports in Western Visayas were canceled on Sunday, May 26, due to severe tropical storm Aghon.

The Coast Guard Station in Aklan announced that trips at the Caticlan Jetty Port in Malay are canceled on Sunday. This includes vessels bound for Batangas Port, Sta. Fe and San Jose in Romblon, Roxas, and Bulalacao in Oriental Mindoro.

The Coast Guard station in Iloilo also announced that trips of vessels from Iloilo en route to Manila are canceled due to Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 being hoisted in Manila.

Meanwhile, the Capiz Station announced that all trips of vessels from Culasi Port in Roxas City bound for areas under Tropical Storm Warning Signal No. 1 or higher are temporarily suspended or not allowed.

In light of these cancellations and the impending storm, maritime authorities advised the general public, coastal communities, and fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea and engaging in seawater-related activities to avert potential mishaps.

In its bulletin released on Sunday afternoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecasted cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in Western Visayas, Palawan including Kalayaan Islands, and Occidental Mindoro due to the influence of Aghon.

On Saturday, PAGASA stated that light to moderate rains and thunderstorms experienced over Western Visayas are likely to affect watercourses such as rivers and tributaries.

“People living near mountain slopes and in low-lying areas of the river systems, and the local disaster risk reduction and management councils concerned are still advised to take necessary precautionary measures,” it said.