Hundreds of travellers were stranded in Negros Occidental when all sea travel out of the province were cancelled starting 6 a.m. yesterday as Tropical Storm “Basyang” approached.

As of 11 last night the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said public storm signal No. 2 remained over Negros Occidental and Oriental, and 23 other areas in the Visayas, Mindanao and Luzon.

Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under public storm signal 1 and 2 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides, PAG-ASA said.

Those living in coastal areas under signal 2 are also alerted against storm surges, it added.

Tropical storm "Basyang" is expected to cross Cebu City, Negros, Guimaras, Southern Panay, Northern Palawan and will exit to the West Philippine Sea Sunday evening.

At of 10 p.m. last night the center of the storm was in the vicinity of Ubay, Bohol, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gustiness of up to 80 kph, PAG-ASA said.

Benjie Ballesteros of the Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Management Team said the storm is expected to hit Negros Occidental this morning. If it maintains its present course, it will hit the Hinigaran, Binalbagan, Himamaylan and Valladolid areas.

However, if it hits Mt. Kanlaon, it could go towards the direction of Bacolod City, or veer towards southern Negros, he said.

Negros Occidental Acting Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the provincial government is on alert for “Basyang” that could cause flooding and landslides.

Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella said the city government is monitoring “Basyang” and is prepared for any eventuality. “Our rescue units are in place,” he said.

All sea travel out of Negros Occidental was suspended starting 6 a.m. yesterday, and will only be allowed to resume when the storm warning over the province is lifted, Philippine Coast Guard Bacolod commander, Lt. Commander Glenn Daraug, said.

Two fast-crafts with only their crew on board were allowed to sail for Iloilo yesterday morning to seek shelter in the Iloilo river, he added.

Other areas placed under public storm signal 2 (61-100 kph winds) are Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Siquijor, Cebu, Camotes Island, Bohol, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran Province, Samar and Eastern Samar in the Visayas;

Camiguin, Dinagat province, Surigao del Norte, Siargao Island, northern Surigao del Sur and northern Agusan del Norte in Mindanao; and Northern Palawan and Calamian Group of Islands in Luzon.

Public storm signal 1 (30-60 kph winds) was hoisted over Northern Samar in the Visayas; Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, the rest of Agusan del Norte, rest of Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, northern Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga del Norte in Mindanao; and the rest of Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Masbate and Ticao Island in Luzon. *CPG

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