Ruby downs power lines, forces evacuation of 716,639—NDRRMC

A man holds on to a pole as strong winds blow brought by Typhoon Hagupit in Legazpi, Albay province, eastern Philippines on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014. Typhoon Hagupit slammed into the central Philippines’ east coast late Saturday, knocking out power and toppling trees in a region where 650,000 people have fled to safety, still haunted by the massive death and destruction wrought by a monster storm last year. AP/Aaron Favila

MANILA, Philippines—Typhoon Ruby (international name: Hagupit) has caused power outages, downed telecommunication signals, and forced the evacuation of 146,785 families or 716, 639 persons, the state disaster agency said Sunday.

In a press briefing, Romina Marasigan, spokesperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said that the no casualties have been recorded yet, attributing it to prompt government action in implementing forced evacuation in areas expected to be hit by Ruby.

Power outages affected residents in regions 4-A (CALABARZON), 5 (Bicol region), and 8 (Eastern Visayas), Marasigan said. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines identified 25 transmission lines and power facilities affected by “Ruby’s” onslaught.

Ruby also left 2,459 passengers stranded as nine vessels, 689 rolling cargoes and three motor bancas were not allowed to set sail.

Marasigan clarified that while damages to government infrastructure in Samar have been listed, the cause of the damages should be attributed to strong winds and not storm surges.

Ruby made its first landfall in Dolores town, Eastern Samar province on Saturday night. Since then, it has slightly weakened while maintaining its speed as it heads toward Masbate province.

According to the latest weather bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration at 5 a.m., Ruby packs maximum sustained winds of up to 160 kilometers per hour (kph) near its center and gusts of up to 195 kph while travelling at a west northwest direction at 15 kph.

More than 50 areas have been placed under public storm warning signals.

At its current pace, the typhoon is expected to make its second landfall at the vicinity of Masbate province at 10 a.m. and exit the country by Wednesday morning.

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