Tropical depression “Marce’’ (international name: “Tokage)” dumped heavy rains and stranded thousands in the Visayas and parts of Luzon yesterday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said Marce maintained its strength as it neared landfall over the Calamian Group of Islands yesterday afternoon.
Tropical storm warning signal No. 2 was hoisted over the Calamian Group of Islands, Cuyo Island, southern Occidental Mindoro, and southern Oriental Mindoro.
Signal No. 1 was hoisted over the the rest of Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro, northern Palawan, Romblon, Visayas, Aklan, and Antique. Tropical cyclone warning signals elsewhere were lifted.
At 4 p.m. yesterday, Marce was spotted at 55 kilometers southeast of Coron, Palawan, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph and moving west- northwest at 22kph.
Marce is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility tomorrow morning or afternoon.
At least 10,000 passengers were stranded in different ports nationwide due to Marce yesterday morning.
The Coast Guard said that 1,401 rolling cargoes, 161 vessels, and 58 motor bancas were also stranded by Marce. (Chito A. Chavez and Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
