579,603 evacuees in Albay can now go home as ‘Ruby’ threat passes

Filipino families seek refuge at a school used as an evacuation center as they prepare for Typhoon Hagupit in Legazpi, Albay province, eastern Philippines Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. AP

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — The Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) has ordered the decampment of all the families evacuated due to Typhoon “Ruby” (Hagupit).

APSEMO head Cedric Daep, in a press briefing at 4 p.m. here, said that as Sunday, the typhoon no longer posed a direct threat to Albay, which meant that all 124,976 families or 579,603 individuals who were evacuated Saturday could go home.

Classes in all levels will however remain suspended on Monday due to heavy rains expected until then, according to authorities.

In a statement, Albay Governor Joey Salceda said that based on their tracking, the wind strength of Ruby was getting weaker but the amihan or the northeast monsoon would still bring moderate to heavy rain in the province until Monday night.

“So lesser risks from wind, storm surge… But more risks from rainfall, landslide, flooding and lahar,” Salceda said in his official Facebook account.

In another advisory released by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) at 5 p.m., Salceda said the suspension of work in all public and private offices has been lifted.

Salceda also assured his province of the full restoration of electricity in the entire province on Monday, which was cut off on Saturday as a preventive measure to prevent damage to power lines.

RELATED STORIES

Albay declared under state of calamity

‘Ruby’ to make 3rd landfall on Sibuyan Island early Monday