Evacuations, preparations on as 'Ruby' makes its way to eastern Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - Provinces within the path of Typhoon 'Ruby' (international name: Hagupit) are conducting massive preparations and pre-emptive evacuations as the storm makes its way to the eastern part of the Philippines.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Albay held a special session on Saturday and passed Resolution 109-2014 declaring the entire Province of Albay under state of calamity. The province, declared under public storm warning signal no. 3, has evacuated residents amid potential strong winds, floods, mud and lahar flows, storm surges and landslides.

In Catbalogan, Samar. 1,538 families have been moved to evacuation centers ahead of the typhoon's landfall tonight. Eleven of the 14 evacuation centers in the city was identified by the city government as already crowded with evacuees from residents in coastal areas.

Meanwhile, in Iloilo, 32,297 people are already on pre-emptive evacuation as of Saturday afternoon. The Iloilo provincial government has also made an initial procurement of the relief goods to ensure that the evacuees have food supply while they are on evacuation.

In Antique, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Office 6 has already delivered 800 food packs for families on pre-emptive evacuation.

In Mindoro, some 170 families from coastal areas were evacuated as of 4 p.m. Saturday to the city proper.

Meanwhile, personnel from the Palawan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council and troops from the Western Command, will also conduct a needs assessment prior to typhoon Ruby arriving in Coron.

The weather bureau said Typhoon Ruby packs 185 kilometers per hour (kph) maximum sustained winds near the center and gusts of up to 220 kph. It is forecast to move west at 13 kph.