More than 8,000 Catbalogan residents move to higher grounds

Catbalogan City DRRMC reconvenes as called for by Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan (center) as Typhoon ‘Ruby’ looms ahead. (Photo by Paulus Aragon)

CATBALOGAN CITY — A total of 1,538 families, or 8,491 individuals, moved to evacuation centers as part of the local government’s precautionary measures ahead of typhoon Ruby’s landfall in Samar Island.

Eleven of the 14 evacuation centers in this city identified by the city government are now crowded with evacuees from residents in coastal areas.

Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan and City Councilors Tekwa Uy and Bembot Bermejo inspected some evacuation centers Saturday to check the condition of evacuees and assured that their immediate needs will be addressed.

Village officials and local disaster volunteers are actively monitoring and assisting the needs of affected families.

Relief goods have been pre-positioned and daycare workers as well as other barangay disaster volunteers are stationed at each evacuation center to assist and monitor.

The city has been experiencing moderate to strong winds and heavy rains as typhoon Ruby threatens to make landfall in the nearby provinces of Eastern Samar and Northern Samar. Storm warning signal number 3 is hoisted in the three Samar provinces.

PAGASA said typhoon Ruby was packing 185 kph maximum sustained winds near the center and gusts of up to 220 kph.

It is forecast to move west at 13 kph.

The typhoon was last spotted 130 kilometers east of Dolores, Eastern Samar. It is expected to be 50 km west of Catarman, Northern Samar or at 60 km east of Masbate City tomorrow morning and will leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday.