‘Ruby’ intensifies, slows down towards Eastern Visayas
MANILA, Philippines—Typhoon Ruby (international name Hagupit) has intensified and slightly slowed down as it continued to track towards Eastern Visayas early Friday.
Signal No. 2 or winds of 61-100 kilometers per hour in at least 24 hours was hoisted in the following areas:
Sorsogon
Ticao Island
Masbate
Northern Samar
Eastern Samar
Samar
Biliran
Leyte
Southern Leyte
Northern Cebu
Cebu City
Bantayan Island
Camotes Island
Surigao del Sur
Agusan del Norte
Surigao del Norte
Dinagat Island
Siargao Island
Signal No. 1, or winds of 30-60 kph is expected in at least 36 hours, was placed in the following areas:
Catanduanes
Albay
Camarines Norte
Camarines Sur
Burias Island
Romblon
Capiz
Iloilo
Negros Oriental
Negros Occidental
Rest of Cebu
Siquijor
Bohol
Misamis Oriental
Agusan del Sur
Camiguin Island
Ruby will pass areas that have yet to recover from Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), the strongest storm in the world to hit land in modern times which killed more than 6,000 last year.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Ruby packed maximum sustained winds of 215 kph the center and gusts of up to 250 kph.
It moved west northwest at 13 kph.
Ruby remained at sea at 500 kilometers east of East Borongan and Eastern Samar as 4a.m. and could gain more strength.
By Saturday morning, it is expected to make landfall in Samar area.
Heavy to intense rains are seen within Ruby’s 700 kilometer-diameter expanse.
Ruby and the Northeast Monsoon will bring rough to very rough sea conditions over the seaboards of Northern Luzon, eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon, over the seaboards of Visayas and over the northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao, Pagasa said.
“Fisherfolks and those using small seacraft are advised not to venture out over the said seaboards. Moreover, those living near coastal areas are alerted against possible storm surges,” it added.
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