Ormoc evacuees moved to higher ground

ORMOC, Philippines – Due to the possibility of a storm surge hitting Ormoc City in Leyte, at least 260 families from 3 evacuation centers were transferred to other evacuation centers on Saturday, December 6. 

PAGASA is expecting that Typhoon Ruby (international name: Hagupit) would make landfall early Sunday, December 7, over the Eastern Samar-Northern Samar area.

According to the latest forecast of the National Operational Assessment of Hazards (Project NOAH), the evacuation sites in Ormoc are still prone to storm surges as high as 2.7 to 3.7 meters.

In its latest storm surge advisory released 10:30 am Saturday, NOAH said the highest surge heights will be between 3.1 and 4.1 meters in the following places:

• Tarangnan, Samar
• Sta Margarita, Samar
• Gandara, Samar
• Catbalogan City
• Maripipi, Biliran
• Kawayan, Biliran
• Almeria, Biliran

Taking this into consideration, several groups led by the local government of Ormoc collaborated to transfer the evacuees in affected evacuation centers to safer ground.

Those previously housed at the Naungan Elementary School were transferred to Barangays Cogon and Mejia. Evacuees from Linao Central School, on the other hand, were transferred to Barangays Dolores and Luna. Those originally in Punta Elementary School were transferred to the Western Leyte College.

Close to 4,500 families found shelter in 79 evacuation centers spread around the city.  Business centers were now closed, while the command center in Ormoc City Hall was in full operation.

The groups that helped the Ormoc local government in the evacuation operations included Ormoc Rescue, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Army, and Kabalikat Civicom.

Earlier, evacuees in Northern Samar were also brought to higher ground due to the threats of storm surges and flashfloods.

PAGASA’s latest bulletin said the typhoon has maximum sustained winds of 175 km/h near the center, and gustiness of up to 210 km/h. It is moving west in direction at 16 km/h, with heavy to torrential rainfall (10 to 30 mm/h) expected within its 600-km diameter.

The typhoon is associated with strong winds and storm surges of up to 4.5 meters as it makes landfall, the bureau added.

The typhoon is also expected to bring heavy to intense rainfall within its 600-km diameter, the bureau said. – with reports from Joie Cruz and Jhay Gaspar/Rappler.com