Huge waves flatten houses in Sorsogon

Rough sea condition in the coastal town of Matnog, Sorsogon as typhoon “Ruby” continues to batter the province.

MATNOG, Sorsogon, Philippines–Huge waves spawned by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) crashed into the coastal communities of Sorsogon on Sunday, destroying houses of some residents.

In Bulusan town, a three-meter storm surge destroyed at least two houses while another was totally damaged in Barangay (village) Tabunan.

Both coastal communities face the Pacific Ocean.

As of midday Sunday, 51,495 families or 229,865 people  remain in evacuation areas as howling winds and heavy rains continue to pummel the province. No casualties have been reported.

In the coastal village of Caloocan in Matnog, some residents who refused to heed the forced evacuation order secured their houses by tying ropes on their roofs.

Ruby, the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year, made its second landfall in Cataingan town in Masbate Sunday morning.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric and Geophysical Services Administration (Pagasa), Ruby had maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 170 kilometers per hour near the center.

Ruby is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Wednesday morning.