Over 8K stranded at ports due to STS Kristine

Over 8,786 passengers, truck drivers, and cargo helpers remain stranded at ports nationwide due to Severe Tropical Storm Kristine as of Thursday morning.

In Bicol, more than 3,750 individuals are still stranded under a red alert status by the Office of Civil Defense-Bicol (OCD-5), while an additional 1,127 people are stranded in Eastern Visayas and Samar.

The Philippine Coast Guard reported that 142 vessels, 65 motorbancas, and 2,275 rolling cargoes are affected, with over 351 vessels taking shelter in different ports, nearly doubling the number of stranded individuals from Wednesday evening.

Tropical Storm Kristine has caused at least two deaths in Camarines Sur as it continues to batter parts of the Philippines.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 over 26 areas nationwide, with some regions under Signal No. 3 and Signal No. 1 due to the storm's approach.