Reaching a maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 250 kph, Typhoon Ruby (international name Hagupit) puts at least 47 out of 81 provinces in the Philippines at high risk of strong winds and rains. Although the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) reported that Typhoon Ruby slightly weakened Saturday morning, it continues to threaten the Samar provinces. Storm signal warnings have been issued to 39 areas, including 10 in the Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions. Albay, Masbate, Catanduanes and Camarines Sur provinces in Bicol Region have been declared under a state of calamity.

Expected to bring rough to very rough sea conditions over seaboards across Bicol, the Visayas and Mindanao, the Philippine Coast Guard suspended sea travel, resulting to over 2,225 passengers and 90 vessels, 786 rolling cargos and 4 motor bancas being stranded at several Philippine seaports. Almost two hundred flights were also cancelled by different airlines. Class and work suspensions were also declared.

Heavy rains and power outages are being felt in regions V (Albay, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur), VI (Iloilo), and VIII (Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte and Southern Leyte). Life-threatening winds, threats of storm surge, flash floods and landslides engendered mass evacuation of residents away from coastlines and flood- and landslide-prone areas.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), typhoon Ruby affects 195, 537 families or 902, 321 persons. Of these, 192,951 families or 896,011 residents flocked to evacuation centers, schools, churches, gymnasiums, barangay and municipal halls and elevated areas in regions IVA, IV-B, V, VI, VII, VIII and CARAGA as of December 7. Some even put up makeshift tents along highways in Tacloban and Borongan. Almost 200 families in Basey, Samar rushed to caves they deemed safer than government shelters. These numbers are expected to swell as the typhoon continues to lash across west northwest Philippines.

In the province of Iloilo, two were reported dead due to hypothermia.

Still reeling from the wrath of Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan), affected communities are once again threatened with loss of lives, damage to property, water sources, farms and crops and livestock. Inside the evacuation centers, the children and the elderly face greater health risks because of overcrowding, lack of food, high probability of ingestion of unsafe drinking water, inadequate availability of water for hygiene, and lack of access to sanitation. Barely recovered from the trauma of past disasters, they face yet another rage of nature.

Appeal for Support

Displaced families are in need of immediate relief (food and non-food items). Thousands of families are cramped in evacuation areas, encamped in caves and inside temporary shelters along highways and even inside ditches. They are in need of canned goods, rice, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, sleeping mats, blankets, etc.

Drop your donations at the CDRC Office, 72-A Times St., West Triangle Homes, Quezon City.

For cash donations:

Peso Account:

Account Name: Citizens’ Disaster Response Center

Bank: Metrobank, Examiner Branch, Quezon City, Philippines

Account No. 636-3-63600741-3

Dollar Account:

Account Name: Citizens’ Disaster Response Center

Bank: Metrobank, Examiner Branch, Quezon City, Philippines

Account No. 636-2-63600158-3

Swift Code: MBTCPHMM