‘Signal No. 1 up in Metro Manila, 7 provinces as Ruby heads to Masbate’

Satellite Image-11:01 PM-December 6, Saturday. SCREENGRAB from noah.dost.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines—Typhoon “Ruby” (known internationally as Hagupit) has maintained its strength, packing winds of up to 175 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 210 kph, as it barrels through the vicinity of Eastern Samar, the state weather bureau said Saturday night.

According to its 11 p.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that “Ruby” is moving towards Masbate province at 15 kph in a west northwest direction.

Pagasa said that “Ruby” was last seen at the vicinity of Dolores town, Eastern Samar province or 140 kilometers of East Southeast of Catarman, Northern Samar province.

At its current pace, “Ruby” is expected to make its second landfall in the vicinity of Masbate province on Sunday afternoon.

The typhoon has first made landfall in Dolores, Eastern Samar, at 9:15 p.m Saturday.

Public storm signal number three (with winds of 101-185 kph expected in at least 18 hours) was raised over the following areas: Romblon, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon,and Masbate (including Burias and Ticao Island), Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, and Biliran.

Signal number two (winds of 61-100 kph is expected in at least 24 hours) Camarines Norte, Southern Quezon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Northern Antique, Aklan, Semirara Group of Islands, Capiz, Northern Iloilo, Northern Cebu (including Cebu City, Bantayan and Camotes Islands), and Southern Leyte.
Meanwhile, signal number one was raised over the following areas: Metro Manila, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rest of Quezon, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Lubang Island, Calamian Group of Islands, Cuyo Island, rest of Antique, rest of Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, rest of Cebu, Bohol, Surigao del Norte (including Siargao Island), and Dinagat Province.

In a televised press briefing, Pagasa weather forecaster Fernando Cada said that raising the typhoon signal to signal number 2 could be considered as the worst case scenario in Metro Manila.

 Original time posted: 11:47 p.m

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