Maniolas

Ruby damages houses in Matnog coastal villages. Residents on Monday, December 8, look at several houses that were damaged by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) at a coastal village in Matnog, Sorsogon on December 7. The Philippine Red Cross said at least 21 were killed due to the typhoon, most of them in Samar. Joseph Morong The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Tuesday confirmed a third fatality in the wake of Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit), and is presently verifying at least eight more. The NDRRMC also said they expect people evacuated from their homes due to Ruby to start returning to their homes soon. “Unti-unti na ito babalik sa bahay sa araw na ito,” the NDRRMC said at a briefing, parts of which were aired on dzBB radio. Ruby on Tuesday weakened into a tropical depression, days after lashing parts of the Visayas, Bicol and southern Luzon. The NDRRMC said they have so far confirmed and validated three deaths related to Ruby. The death toll it recorded stood at two as of Monday. But the agency also said that while eight more have been confirmed dead, their cases will have to be validated before they are included in the NDRRMC’s list. The Philippine Red Cross had already recorded at least 23 deaths as of early Tuesday. “Ongoing ang official validation,” the NDRRMC said, adding they are waiting for validation by the Department of Health. Also, the agency said at least 45 were reported injured. Meanwhile, the NDRRMC said the estimated Read More …

Eastern Samar starts to feel Ruby’s rain, winds; evacuations continue . A satellite photo taken and released by EUMETSAT on Friday, December 5, shows Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) closing in on Samar Island. Eastern Samar started to experience heavy rains and strong winds from Ruby Saturday morning, even as the government continued evacuation efforts for thousands of people. Many also sought shelter in churches, schools and makeshift facilities. AFP/EUMETSAT 2014 At least 2,163 passengers were stranded in various ports due to bad weather conditions brought by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit), the Philippine Coast Guard said Saturday afternoon. The Coast Guard said that as of 4 p.m., 2,163 were stranded along with 80 vessels, 434 rolling cargos, four motor bancas, 97 vessels and 13 motor bancas taking shelter. Six trips were also canceled, it added. A breakdown of those stranded includes: Metro Manila and Central Luzon Manila: 340 passengers, 2 vessels, 2 canceled trips Palawan: Puerto Princesa: 4 vessels, 4 canceled trips Coron: 4 vessels (taking shelter) Cuyo: 2 vessels Brooke’s Point: 30 passengers, 5 vessels Southern Tagalog Batangas: 142 passengers, 157 rolling cargos Oriental Mindoro: 371 passengers, 156 rolling cargos Occidental Mindoro: 7 passengers, 3 rolling cargos Bicol Albay: 183 passengers, 19 vessels, 34 rolling cargos, 19 vessels (taking shelter) Sorsogon: 70 passengers, 6 rolling cargos Catanduanes: 18 passengers, 9 rolling cargos Masbate: 91 passengers, 13 vessels, 10 rolling cargos, 2 motor bancas Eastern Visayas Maasin: 265 passengers, 23 rolling cargos Tacloban: 1 vessel Western Visayas Bacolod: 248 passengers, 8 vessels, 21 Read More …

Sorsogon residents find shelter in a church. Residents of a coastal barangay in Sorsogon take refuge in a church ahead of Ruby which is expected to make landfall in Dolores, Eastern Samar on Saturday evening. Joseph Morong Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) could affect 26.8 million people in the Philippines, according to Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS). Among people living in coastal areas, 2.4 million are at risk of storm surges Ruby may generate, the GDACS added. The GDACS is an initiative of the United Nations and the European Commission in cooperation with disaster managers worldwide to disseminate information in times of calamity. The populous Southern Tagalog region could bear the brunt of the typhoon’s effects, with 8.2 million people who could be potentially affected by extreme winds. National Capital Region and Central Luzon follow, with 7.9 million and 6.1 million, respectively. Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas, which faces the Pacific Ocean and thus prone to adverse weather conditions, relatively have a lower population affected with 3.9 million and three million. As of 6 a.m. on Saturday, 10.8 million have already felt the cyclone winds brought about by Ruby, with maximum speeds reaching 204 kph, according to GDACS. GDACS also listed airports and major ports which could be affected, which includes the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the Subic Bay International Airport. — Marisse Panaligan/JST, GMA News

The following areas have declared class suspensions on December 6. Keep checking back on this page for updates: All Levels: – Cavite – Laguna – Rizal – Bohol – Siquijor – Bais, Negros Oriental – Bayawan, Negros Oriental – Guihulngan, Negros Oriental – Dumaguete, Negros Oriental – Danao, Cebu – Bogo, Cebu – Carcar, Cebu Preschool to High School: – Naga City College: – University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban