Hundreds of passengers were stranded as fastcraft trips out of Bacolod were cancelled yesterday morning, while sea travel from other ports of Negros Occidental were also halted amid gale warnings.

Fastcraft travel out of Bacolod resumed in the afternoon, Lt. Commander Ramil Palabrica, Coast Guard Bacolod Station chief, yesterday said.

The rough seas were brought on by tropical storm Egay, which also caused minimal flooding in some parts of Negros Occidental, and landslides.

PAGASA weather forecaster Samuel Duran said that as of 4 p.m. yesterday the center of “Egay” was located 200 kilometers northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte (19.5°N, 119.3°E), packed with maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center, and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

It was forecast to move northwest at 7 kph and expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Thursday evening, heading towards Taiwan, Duran said.

Duran said PAGASA continues to monitor the tropical storm with international name Cham-Hom that is expected to enter the Philippines by this evening or tomorrow morning, before Egay exits the country.

Once the severe tropical storm enters the PAR, it will be locally named "Falcon", the sixth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the second for the month of July.

“Falcon” may not directly affect the country but it may enhance the southwest monsoon that will continue to bring rains in Luzon and the Visayas, Duran said.

PAGASA expects three to five tropical cyclones to enter PAR this month.

Negrenses should brace for more rains, Zephard Gerhart Caelian, Provincial Disaster Management Program Division chief, said.

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. urged Negrenses to be vigilant and to take extra precautions.

He said vessels should not venture out to sea if warnings are raised to avoid loss of lives.

Marañon also said heavy rains had caused landslides in Hinobaan town. Several areas of the Bacuyangan-Damutan road were no longer passable and needed heavy equipment for clearing operations, the governor was told.

Flashfloods, strong winds, heavy rains, and flooding from July 1 to 5 affected 650 families or 2,555 individuals in Cauayan, Valladolid, Bago City and Silay City, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, Provincial Health Officer and OIC Provincial Social Welfare and Development officer, reported to the governor.

Thirty-six houses were damaged and 10 were destroyed, he said.*CPG/PNA

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