Thousands of residents will be without power as electricity has already been cut off in most of the town of Laoang in Northern Samar and Borongan in Eastern Samar as Typhoon Ruby began its landfall tonight.
Laoang Mayor Madelyn Ong, in an interview over Radyo Agila, said that the town is now being battered by the strong winds and rains brought by Ruby. Whether the electricity was cut on purpose or is the result of the impending storm is unclear.
Ong said that more than seven thousand residents have already been evacuated to safer areas to wait out the storm, and that health workers and officials from various barangays in the area are working hand in hand to assist said evacuees.
In Borongan, DILG Secretary Mar Roxas reported that despite the lack of electricity, residents in the area still have mobile phone signals.
Roxas added that a landslide occurred along a portion of the road going to San Juan, also in Eastern Samar, and is presently being cleared by operatives of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
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