TUGUEGARAO CITY — Eighty-nine stranded tourists were airlifted by a C-130 Hercules transport plane from the typhoon-stricken province of Batanes to mainland Luzon on Friday.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office said the C-130 provided by the government landed in Laoag City in Ilocos Norte, where the tourists can either book commercial flights or take public transport bus services to Manila or other destinations.

The 89 on board the C-130 plane were among the close to 200 tourists stranded in Basco town as no departing commercial flights or sea vessels were immediately available.

Aimon Daroca, one of the stranded tourists, said they arrived in Batanes just before the typhoon warning was announced.

Batanes villager Daniel De Sagon recounted his ordeal during the height of the typhoon, saying he was thankful that they survived the storm even though his house was destroyed by strong winds and rains.

Avelina Alcon, another villager, said her house was destroyed and their belongings drenched by the rains.

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