Storm surge destroys 8 houses in Sorsogon

Aftermath of typhoon “Ruby” in Matnog, Sorsogon. Heavy rains and howling winds continue to batter the entire province. NESTOR CORRALES/INQUIRER.net

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines –A storm surge destroyed eight houses left empty by residents in Sorsogon Sunday morning as Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) crosses from Eastern Samar to Masbate, the Philippine Army said.

Major Angelo Guzman, spokesman of Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Southern Luzon Command, said that a storm surge estimated to be three to five meters high wrecked eight houses in the coastal villages of Mabuhay and Dapdap in Bulusan, Sorsogon at around 9 a.m. Sunday.

He said the houses were empty after government disaster response units in Sorsogon evacuated the residents in the area on Saturday in anticipation of the storm’s arrival in Bicol.

In Masbate, Police Officer 3 Zandro Cabintoy, spokesman of Masbate Provincial Police, confirmed that Ruby made its second landfall in Cataingan, Masbate at around 10 a.m. Sunday.

He said the storm surge that the weather bureau warned about was made minimal by the low tide experienced in Masbate at the time of Ruby’s landfall.

The strong winds is still being felt in the province an hour after the landfall, particularly in Esperanza, he said.

Guzman said a bridge in Barangay (village) Banadero in Mobo, Masbate was not passable due to flood as of Sunday morning.

Another bridge in Barangay Pinamarbuhan, also in Mobo, Masbate, was also rendered unpassable by flood, said Cabindoy.

In Catanduanes, Lieutenant Gilbert Dumugho, operations officer of 83rd Infantry Battalion, said coastal towns, particularly those facing the Pacific Ocean, have been experiencing huge waves and strong winds since Saturday night until Sunday morning.