Authorities set deadline for forced evacuation in Eastern Samar

Emergency response equipment being prepared last night in Borongan, Eastern Samar. (Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines’ Facebook page)

BORONGAN CITY  -– Residents in coastal communities and low lying areas in Eastern Samar province are given until 4:00 p.m. Saturday to move to safer grounds as powerful typhoon “Ruby” approaches land.

Governor Conrado Nicart said that it was agreed by officials in a meeting with Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel Roxas II to set a deadline for forced evacuation.

“Our aim is zero casualty. We have to forcibly move residents out of coastal villages by 4 p.m. today,” Nicart said in a media interview.

The local disaster risk reduction and management council will prioritize coastal villages in the northern part of the province, which include Borongan City, San Julian, Taft, Dolores, Oras, and Arteche town.

“Our advice to all residents in Eastern Samar, including those in southern part of the province is to be vigilant and stay away from danger,” Nicart said.

In Borongan City alone, 12,920 individuals or 100 percent of the population in 27 coastal communities have been transferred to 33 safe evacuation centers as of this morning.

Earlier today, Borongan City Mayor Fe Abunda ordered to transfer 1,475 evacuees from the Eastern Samar State University campus in Maypangdan village to different evacuation centers for fear that the school might be inundated by storm surges.

As typhoon Ruby nears, the city has been experiencing moderate to strong winds and heavy downpour. Power was cut off in several areas outside the city center.