MANILA, Philippines—Typhoon Ruby (international name: Hagupit), packing winds of 175 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 210 kph, made its first landfall in the town of Dolores in Eastern Samar province on Saturday evening, the state weather bureau said.
Weather forecaster Jori Loiz confirmed in a radio interview that Ruby made its landfall at 9:15 p.m.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that Ruby is expected to bring strong winds, storm surge of up to 4.5 meters and torrential rains.
On Saturday afternoon, Pagasa raised public storm warning signal number 3 in Catanduanes, Albay including Burias Island, Sorsogon, Masbate, Ticao Island, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, and Biliran.
Camarines Sur, Romblon, Aklan, Capiz, Northern Cebu including Cebu City, Bantayan Island, Leyte and Southern Leyte were placed under public storm warning signal no. 2.
Southern Quezon, Camarines Norte, Batangas, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Northern Negros, rest of Cebu, Bohol, Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island and Dinagat Province were placed under public storm warning signal no. 1.
According to Pagasa, Ruby is expected to make landfall in the following areas between Saturday to Monday: Dolores (evening of Dec. 6), Masbate (morning of Dec. 7), Sibuyan Island (afternoon of Dec. 7), Romblon (afternoon of Dec. 7), Tablas Island (evening of Dec. 7) and Oriental Mindoro (morning of Dec. 8).
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