Catarman, Northern Samar: The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) based in Allen, Northern Samar, has reported that 1,292 passengers and a total of 204 vehicles (19 buses, 167 cargo trucks and 18 light cars) in three ports here were stranded as the entire Samar Island was placed under storm Signal No.1. The PCG prevented the vehicles carrying passengers and cargos from leaving the ports in Barangay Look and Barangay Jubasan in Allen town and in Barangay Alegria, San Isidro, on Thursday. 1 as Typhoon Urduja slightly accelerated while approaching the Eastern Samar and Northern Samar areas. The department said floods in Barangay Pinasuhan in Hernani town, also in Eastern Samar, rendered the road impassable, isolating the towns of McArthur, Quinapondan, Salcedo, Mercedes and Guian. The center of Urduja was estimated at 175 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, with sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour maximum and gustiness of up to 65 kph.

Source: Manila Times December 14, 2017 12:11 UTC