(Eagle News Service) — Typhoon Ruby (international name Hagupit) has now weakened into a tropical storm as it made landfall at 5:45 p.m. in Laiya, Batangas on Monday, December 8.
Ruby, now a tropical storm, is packing maximum winds of 85 kilometers per hour with gustines of up to 100 kph near the center, as it is forecast to move West Northwest at 13 kph.
Thousands of Batangas residents fled their homes hours before storm Ruby made its fourth landfall in Batangas.
Its estimated rainfall amount is from 5 – 15 mm per hour (moderate – heavy) within the 450 km diameter of the typhoon.
Public storm warning signal number 2 has been raised over Metro Manila, Batangas, Cavite, Bataan, Laguna, Southern Quezon, Marinduque, Northern Oriental Mindoro, including Lubang Island.
Residents in low-lying and mountainous areas are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living along the coast are warned on the occurrence of big waves associated with Storm Surge which may reach up to 2 meters.
Storm signal number one is hoisted over Zambales, Pampanga, Tarlac, Bulacan, Rizal, Rest of Quezon, rest of Mindoro provinces and Romblon.
It is forecast to be located 240 km west of Quezon City by Tuesday afternoon.
