NDRRMC: 2 confirmed deaths due to Typhoon ‘Ruby’

By: Bong Lozada - 10 years ago

Strong winds and rain pound the seawall hours before Typhoon Hagupit passes near the city of Legazpi on December 7, 2014. Typhoon Hagupit tore apart homes and sent waves crashing through coastal communities across the eastern Philippines, creating more misery for millions following a barrage of deadly disasters. AFP PHOTO/TED ALJIBE

MANILA, Philippines — The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has recorded two fatalities due to the effects of Typhoon “Ruby” (international name Hagupit), as of Sunday evening.

NDRRMC Undersecretary Alexander Pama said in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo that Thea Rojo and Ernesto Baylon died on Saturday due to hypothermia.

Rojo, a 1-year-old toddler, was from Balasan, Iloilo while Baylon, 65, was from Estancia, Iloilo.

Pama added that as of 4:00 pm Sunday, a total of 195,537 families or 902,321 have felt the effects of Typhoon Ruby which battered Eastern Visayas and Southern Luzon.

Of the total families affected, 192,951 or 896,011 people are inside evacuation centers.

Pama said that it’s too early to tell the general effects of “Ruby” as the typhoon has yet to make its third landfall on Monday early morning.

“It would be premature to make a judgment,” Pama said. “It’s too early.”

The Office of Civil Defense in Iloilo on Sunday reported that another person died but Pama said that the death was not related to the typhoon.

A certain Jenelyn Castor, 35-years-old, died due to eclampsia, a complication in pregnancy.

Also, 2,225 passengers, 90 vessels, 786 rolling cargoes and four motorboats are stranded due to inclement weather.

Meanwhile, a Notice to Airmen (Nota) has been issued which allows the opening or Tacloban airport from 6 am to 6 pm for military and general aviation flights that would be used for relief operations.

The Nota would be effective until December 14, 6 pm.