‘Ruby’ weakens; signal no. 3 up in Bicol, Eastern Visayas regions

MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Ruby weakened slightly on Saturday morning, but more provinces were placed under Public Storm Warning Signal no. 3.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), in its 11 a.m. bulletin, said that Ruby had slightly weakened and was now packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kph (down from 195 kph) with gusts of up to 220 kph (from 230 kph).

Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo warned the public, however, that Ruby was still considered a strong typhoon that is comparable to typhoon Pablo, which hit Mindanao in 2012 and left more than a thousand people dead.

In addition to Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and (Western) Samar, Ruby is expected to bring winds of 101 to 185 kilometers per hour  within at least 18 hours in Biliran and some parts of Bicol region—namely, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate including Ticao Island.

Spotted 180 kilometers east northeast of Borongan, Eastern Samar at 10 a.m. Saturday, the typhoon is expected to move westward and maintain its course at 13 kph.

The estimated rainfall within the 600-kilometer diameter of the typhoon is from 7.5 to 200 mm per hour.

It is expected to make landfall on early Sunday morning over Eastern Samar and Northern Samar, which will bring strong winds, heavy to intense rainfall and storm surges of up to 4.5 meters.

Signal No. 2 (winds of 61 to 100 kph expected in at least 24 hours), was hoisted over Camarines Sur, Burias Island and Romblon in Luzon; Capiz, Northern Cebu including Cebu City, Bantayan Island, Camotes Island, Leyte and Southern Leyte in Visayas; and Dinagat Province in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 was raised in Southern Quezon, Camarines Norte, Marinduque, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro in Luzon; Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Northern Negros, the rest of Cebu and Bohol in Visayas; and Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island in Mindanao.

Ruby is expected to be 50 kms west of Catarman in Northern Samar on Sunday morning, 40 kms north of Romblon on Monday morning and 115 kms west of Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro on Tuesday morning.

At its current pace, it is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Wednesday evening.

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