‘Ruby’ weakens, expected to pass Metro Manila Monday night

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Typhoon Ruby has been downgraded to a tropical storm.

PAGASA, in its advisory issued at 11 a.m. on Monday, PAGASA noted that Typhoon Ruby has weakened. It is now packing maximum sustained winds of 105 kilometers per hour (kph), with a gustiness of up to 135 kph. It is forecast to move west northwest at 10 kph.

Typhoon Ruby was last seen 20 kilometers east of Torrijos, Marinduque.

ALSO READ Top 10 Philippines’ deadliest storms

Metro Manila may experience strong winds and heavy rains from Typhoon Ruby (international name Hagupit) when the tropical cyclone passes close to the metropolis between 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, December 8.

Public storm warning Signal No. 2 remains hoisted over Metro Manila, but Signal No. 3 has been raised in provinces just south of the nation’s capital.

Signal No. 3 (winds of between 101-185 kph is expected in at least 18 hours) areas:

Bataan
Batangas
Cavite
Laguna
Marinduque
Oriental Mindoro
Lubang Island
Southern Quezon

Signal No. 2 (winds of 61-100 kph is expected in at least 24 hours) areas:

Pampanga
Rizal
Bulacan
Metro Manila
Rest of Quezon
Occidental Mindoro
Camarines Norte
Camarines Sur
Romblon
Burias Island

Signal No. 1 (winds of 30 – 60 kph is expected in at least 36 hours) areas:

Nueva Ecija
Tarlac
Zambales
Polillo Island
Albay
Sorsogon
Ticao Island
Calamian Group of Island
Masbate
Aklan
Capiz
Semirara Island

PAGASA warned that 3-meter-high storm surges may occur in areas in Signal No. 3. It added that Ruby is carrying moderate to heavy rainfall within its 450-km diameter.

[IMAGES] Effects of ‘Ruby’ in Tacloban

Ruby is expected to be 60 km west-northwest of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro by Tuesday morning and leave the Philippine area of responsibility Thursday.

The typhoon has left at least two people dead in the Visayas. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said two people in Iloilo died of hypothermia.

The typhoon has also forced up to a million people to evacuate to safer ground.

2 DIE OF HYPOTHERMIA IN NORTHERN ILOILO AMID STRONG RAINS

The Local Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council in Iloilo has confirmed 2 deaths amid strong rains and wind battering the northern part of the province.

A 65-year old man died of hypothermia in Estancia, Iloilo. A 1-year old girl in the Balasan Town evacuation center also died from the cold.

On reports of more deaths, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council says it still has not received confirmed information on casualties.