900,000 in evacuation centers after 2nd Ruby landfall

MANILA, Philippines – Nearly 900,000 individuals fled their homes as Typhoon Ruby (international codename: Hagupit) hit land for the 2nd time since entering the Philippine area of responsibility.  

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said a total of 192,109 families or 892,107 individuals are presently housed in evacuation centers as of 6 pm Sunday, December 7. 

The figure is up from 132,351 families or 652,082 individuals on Saturday evening, December 6, after Ruby’s 1st landfall in Dolores town, Eastern Samar.  

Here’s the breakdown of the total number of evacuees per affected region as of Sunday evening:

• Calabarzon – 6,156 families or 27,390 individuals 
• Mimaropa – 9,262 families or 36,919 individuals
• Bicol Region – 36,778 families or 181,131 individuals 
• Western Visayas – 22,199 families or 90,536 individuals
• Central Visayas – 32,271 families or 136,880 individuals 
• Eastern Visayas – 62,080 families or 309,158 individuals
• Caraga – 23,363 families or 110,093 individuals 

In Legazpi City, 12,000 families from 19 coastal and low-lying villages were asked to evacuate in anticipation of fears that the typhoon could trigger landslides from the Mayon volcano. 

The NDRRMC said the government has also extended assistance to 842 families or 3,904 individuals affected by the typhoon but are staying outside evacuation centers. 

While schools or churches served as evacuation centers for most Ruby-affected areas, at least 3 caves were used for shelter in Palompon, Leyte and Guiuan, Eastern Samar. 

A total of 1,681 evacuation centers have been opened as of 2 pm Sunday, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said. 

At least 3 individuals were confirmed dead: one in Eastern Samar and two in Iloilo. 

DSWD is looking for volunteers to help repack goods at the National Resource Operations Center in Pasay City and the repacking hub in Cebu. 

Typhoon Ruby – now dubbed as the “longest-staying typhoon” in the country – stranded over 2,200 passengers in various ports around the country. – Rappler.com