MANILA — More than 22,000 people were evacuated in Luzon as Tropical Storm Ramil (international name: Fengshan) brought heavy rains and strong winds across southern and central parts of the island.

In its situation report on Sunday, October 19, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 22,311 individuals were evacuated from Calabarzon and Bicol (Region 5) as local governments implemented preemptive measures ahead of Ramil’s landfall.

The storm also disrupted transport operations nationwide. At least 39 seaports were affected, leaving 3,242 passengers, 1,050 rolling cargoes, six vessels, and seven motor bancas stranded, according to the NDRRMC.

The Philippine Coast Guard, however, reported higher figures — 6,560 passengers, 41 vessels, two motor bancas, and 1,911 rolling cargoes stranded at various ports. It added that 51 vessels and 29 motor bancas had taken shelter to ride out the storm.

Despite the evacuations and travel disruptions, authorities said no damage to infrastructure or agriculture had been reported as of Sunday morning.

As of 8 a.m. Sunday, PAGASA said Ramil’s center was located over the coastal waters of Mauban, Quezon, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts reaching up to 90 kph. The storm was moving west-northwest at 20 kph, prompting Signal Nos. 1 and 2 over several provinces in Luzon.