Philippine Coast Guard halts sea travel as Rosal nears

The Philippine Coast Guard suspended sea travel for motor bancas and other small watercraft in Aurora province on Wednesday as Super Typhoon Rosal accelerated across the Philippine Sea toward northern Luzon.

PAGASA's early morning bulletin on October 21 placed seven areas under Wind Signal No. 1, with Batanes facing the most acute risk. At 5 a.m., Rosal's centre was 990 kilometres east of Northern Luzon, moving west-northwest at 30 kilometres per hour with maximum sustained winds of 215 km/h and gusts reaching 265 km/h. Seas off the Batanes group reached 8 metres, and mariners were advised to stay in port or seek shelter until conditions improved.

Sea travel in Catanduanes was also suspended. PAGASA warned that rough seas and gale-force winds would stretch well beyond the five areas that had been under wind signals, affecting coastal waters nominally outside the formal warning zone.

The agency forecast Rosal would not make landfall but expected it to sweep past northern Luzon before leaving the Philippine Area of Responsibility by early October 24. Ship operators in the Batanes group, Northern Cagayan and Aurora faced the longest travel restrictions.

The suspension is one of several maritime disruptions in Philippine waters this year. In September, a fire aboard the MV June Aster ferry near Coron killed five passengers, drawing attention to safety standards on inter-island routes.