4,000 stranded in C Philippine ports due to typhoon

MANILA - Almost 4,000 passengers were stranded in a number of ports in central Philippines due to Typhoon Jelawat, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Sunday.

The stranded passengers came from Matnog in Sorsogon province, Balwarterco and Dapdap in Northern Samar province.

At least three flights were also cancelled due to bad weather.

Storm Signal No 1 has been hoisted in Samar provinces.

The state weather forecast bureau said that Jelawat was at 310 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar by 4 pm Sunday with maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometer per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph.

"Southwest monsoon enhanced by the typhoon will continue to bring moderate to heavy rains in Western Visayas and Mindanao," the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.