5 dead from Ruby

MANILA, Philippines  — At least 5 were killed in the Visayas and nearly a million people were displaced due to typhoon Ruby according to initial reports arriving yesterday.

One-year-old Thea Rojo of Balasan, Iloilo; and Ernesto Baylon, 65, of Estancia also in Iloilo, died of hypothermia, according to National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council executive director Alexander Pama in a press briefing early Sunday evening.

The military also separately confirmed at least one casualty in Eastern Samar. Lieutenant Colonel Erwin Alea, the military's 8th Infantry Division spokesman confirmed that one person was killed in Dolores town, where the typhoon first made landfall Saturday night, December 6.

Pama said they are still waiting for reports coming from the ground. There are reports of casualties in Dolores but NDRRMC has yet to validate them, he said.

"Mataas pa rin tubig going there. Puro texts. We want it validated," Pama said during the briefing.

Typhoon Ruby packed maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 20 km/h when it made landfall in Dolores town. It weakened as it made its second landfall in Masbate.

NDRRMC's latest report shows that a total of 195,537 families or 902,321 persons were affected by the typhoon. Out of this total, 192,951 families or 896,011 persons are currently being served inside and outside evacuation centers.

The initial estimate of typhoon Ruby's damage to agriculture in the Bicol region is pegged at P90.46 million.

n on Monday, December 8, on Sibuyan Island. It is expected to bring heavy rains and flooding in Metro Manila as it exits to the West Philippine Sea Wednesday morning, December 10.

Several mayors of Metro Manila and nearby provinces have declared classes suspended. The NDRRMC has also recommended the suspension of government work.

Typhoon Ruby's strong winds downed communication lines and felled electric posts and trees causing power outages in at least 11 provinces.

A total of 183 domestic flights were cancelled, at least 5 airports were closed, and over 2,000 passengers were stranded nationwide.

Initial reports from Samar island show that damage to infrastructure was due to Ruby's strong winds, not storm surges, as earlier feared. Photos of downed electric posts and trees circulated in the Internet on Sunday.

The situation is starting to go back to normal in several areas as typhoon Ruby moves towards the West Philippine Sea. The Department of Social Welfare and Development said thousands have returned to their homes, among them, the evacuees in Southern Leyte who were allowed by the provincial government to do so, after the weather cleared.

The military and the Department of Public Works and Highways are now focusing their efforts on Eastern Visayas to clear roads, airports, and seaports.

Two  dead  in  Cebu

A 14-year-old boy died after he was electrocuted past 10 a.m. yesterday morning in Sitio Bangkong, Barangay Cerdeña, Malabuyoc town.

Jimmy Saldo Cardente, 14, an elementary student died after touching an electrical wire.

Desk officer Police Officer 2 Diosdaso Iran said investigation revealed the drop wire from the main line to the power meter of the victim's house became detached after strong winds blew a frond from a coconut tree and it landed on the drop wire. The victim was trying to reattach the drop wire to the meter when he was electrocuted and killed instantly.

"Natagakan ang wire og palwa sa lubi, 'nya pagtagak natanggal ang connection sa meter katong naa sa tubo gamay na-unat siya sir. Ni-attempt og fix ang bata sa live wire maong nakuryentihan," Iran said.

Barangay Cerdeñas is located 18 kilometers away from the town proper and it took the police two hours to reach the place.

Iran said that the victim is living together with his siblings after their mother left them in September, their father is already dead. The victim is expected to be buried sometime today or Tuesday.

In Bogo City, a 60-year-old man identified only as a certain "Baring" died of hypothermia, according to Provincial Information Officer Ethel Natera.

There were no typhoon-related deaths or injuries reported in the other northern Cebu towns where typhoon Ruby was expected to make the most damage in the province.

In Daanbantayan, as of noon yesterday, Mayor Augusto Corro and Vice Mayor Gilbert Arrabis Jr. confirmed that they achieved the zero-casualty aim of the town and the Provincial Government. The officials said that no storm surges were also reported in the town which has a number of coastal barangays.

The town has over 7,400 families evacuated spread in 86 evacuation centers. Some are also staying in 383 home-based centers, or private residences whose owners have offered to shelter evacuees. 

Corro said that they are grateful to the residents, especially those in coastal and low-lying barangays, who did not resist their order for a preemptive evacuation. 

In Medellin town a certain Ricardo Apas, 79, was also reported missing as of 6:30 p.m. There was also a death reported but Mayor Ricky Ramirez explained that Amada Tubos, 62, who died in her house at the height of the typhoon, succumbed to kidney failure.

Medellin town was also listed as one of the areas where a possible storm surge may happen but Ramirez said no storm surge was reported.

In Bogo City, as of 1 p.m. yesterday, 3,187 families or 7,181 individuals were evacuated from the 29 barangays of the city. Louise Jane Cabangal, the designated information officer of Bogo City, said they have 66 operational evacuations centers prepared and 50 were occupied. No storm surges were also recorded in the city which has 11 identified coastal barangays.

Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council recorded no casualties during the onslaught of typhoon Ruby yesterday.

City councilor and CCDRRMC head David Tumulak said that his office did not recorded fatalities and injuries as of 6 p.m. yesterday. However, he said that there is no reason to be complacent. He said that the Quick Response Team with the barangay volunteers will continue their monitoring especially in the mountain barangays.

Mayor Michael Rama declared that evacuees in urban areas can go back to their houses as of yesterday afternoon. On Saturday night the city government conducted forced evacuation and gathered at least 35,854 individuals housed temporarily in 137 evacuation centers in the city.

Meanwhile as typhoon Ruby ravaged the Visayas region it left three people injured by a fallen tree in Negros Oriental.

Antonio Talledo, 61, of Poblacion, Guihulngan City, Crisanta Butalid, and Nelda Alberio, both of La Libertad, were injured after they were pinned by a fallen tree. They were rushed to the hospital treatment and were reportedly in safe condition as of last night.

No  classes

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III ordered the suspension of classes today in all levels in both public and private schools in the province.

"Since typhoon Ruby is expected to exit PAR (Philippine Area of Responsibility) on Wednesday yet and more rains expected. There is also a need to inspect damage to schools or classrooms after the typhoon," Natera said in a text message.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office has yet to conduct rapid assessment today.

As of last night, Natera said over 128, 000 families were placed in various evacuation centers in the province.

There was no shortage of relief supplies for evacuees in typhoon-affected areas in the Visayas while no problem was encountered during the distribution of relief goods, said Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon "Dinky" Soliman.  — Bryner L. Diaz, AJ de la Torre, Jean Marvette A. Demecillo, Michael H. Braga and AFP/BRP