TACLOBAN CITY — Around 368 passengers were stranded at the port of Allen in Northern Samar on Friday after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) suspended all sea voyages due to typhoon “Ramil.”

According to PCG Northern Samar Station Commander Joshua Gabon, the suspension automatically takes effect once Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration raises a tropical cyclone wind signal in the area. Before noon Friday, Signal No. 1 was hoisted over Northern Samar.

“All vessels are advised to take precautionary measures and closely monitor the movement of tropical depression ‘Ramil,’” Gabon said. “Voyages will remain suspended until weather and sea conditions improve.”

The port of Allen is a major transit hub connecting Visayas and Mindanao travelers to Luzon via ferry routes to Matnog, Sorsogon. With the suspension in place, trips in both directions were halted, leaving buses, trucks, and passengers waiting out the bad weather.

Gabon said the Coast Guard continues to monitor sea conditions with the help of local disaster management offices, especially after PAGASA issued a storm surge warning along Northern Samar’s coastal areas.

Meanwhile, Governor Harris Ongchuan convened the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Saturday morning to discuss the province’s preparedness and assess the possible impact of the storm.