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PAGASA: Ruby weakens slightly, 33 areas remain under storm signals


(UPDATED 6:09 p.m.) Typhoon Ruby (international name: Hagupit) has weakened slightly as it continued to move toward Eastern Visayas, state weather agency PAGASA reported on Friday afternoon.
 
In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Ruby's maximum sustained winds weakened to 195 kph, from 215 kph earlier in the day. The typhoon also became smaller in diameter at 600 km, from 700 km earlier in the day, according to PAGASA.
 
Ruby is still expected to make landfall on Saturday evening over the Eastern Samar-Northern Samar area.
 
PAGASA said the typhoon weakened due to the "intrusion" of cold air mass from the northeast monsoon, or Amihan.
 
Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo said the slower the storm moves would be better, for the country as Ruby is expected to further weaken in the coming hours.
 
"The longer na mas magtagal siya, mas advantageous," Montejo said.
 
"Habang tumatagal, lalong humihina. It will weaken until and after landfall, so 'yun ang positive news. Hindi na siya magiging super typhoon," he added.
 
As of 4 p.m., Ruby was estimated at 370 km east of Borongan, Eastern Samar, with gustiness of up to 230 kph.
 
The following areas remained under Storm Signal No. 2:
 
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Ticao Island
- Masbate
- Northern Samar
- Eastern Samar
- Samar
- Biliran
- Leyte
- Southern Leyte
- Northern Cebu including Cebu City, Bantayan Island and Camotes Island
 
Signal No. 1 remained up over the following areas:
 
- Catanduanes
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Burias Island
- Romblon
- Capiz
- Iloilo
- Antique
- Guimaras
- Aklan
- Negros Oriental
- Negros Occidental
- Rest of Cebu
- Siquijor
- Bohol
- Surigao del Sur
- Agusan del Norte
- Surigao del Norte
- Dinagat Island
- Siargao Island
- Agusan del Sur
- Camiguin Island
 
Despite weakening, Ruby is still expected to bring the threat of  strong winds, storm surge, and heavy to intense rainfall of 7.5 to 20 mm per hour.
 
"Hindi natin sinasabi na porke humina ay maliit na ang storm surge. Lahat ng may signal number two, pinapayuhan pa rin natin sa storm surges," PAGASA weather forecaster Chris Perez said during a briefing. 
 
Critical areas
 
Meanwhile, 47 provinces have been placed under the list of "Potential High Risk Areas."
 
Sixteen provinces are along the 100-km diameter from the center of the typhoon, including:
  • Batangas
  • Cavite
  • Quezon
  • Marinduque
  • Occidental Mindoro
  • Oriental Mindoro
  • Romblon
  • Albay
  • Camarines Norte
  • Camarines Sur
  • Masbate
  • Sorsogon
  • Biliran
  • Eastern Samar
  • Northern Samar
  • Samar

Areas within the 100 km diameter may experience storm surges of about three to four meters high, heavy damage to agriculture, uprooting of trees, and extensive damage on houses made of light materials.

Meanwhile, provinces, including Metro Manila, that fall under the 200-km diameter, may also encounter storm surges, along with "moderate" damage to agriculture, and risks in travel by sea:
  • Metro Manila
  • Aurora
  • Bataan
  • Bulacan
  • Nueva Ecija
  • Pampanga
  • Tarlac
  • Zambales
  • Rizal
  • Palawan
  • Catanduanes
  • Aklan
  • Antique
  • Capiz
  • Iloilo
  • Negros Occidental
  • Cebu
  • Leyte
  • Southern Leyte
  • Dinagat Islands

The rest, which are along the 300-km diameter zone, on the other hand, may face "light to moderate damage," including the breaking of twigs and branches off trees:
  • Benguet
  • La Union
  • Nueva Vizcaya
  • Quirino
  • Guimaras
  • Bohol
  • Negros Oriental
  • Surigao del Norte
  • Surigao del Sur

 
— Joel Locsin, Rose-An Jessica Dioquino, and Trisha Macas/TJD/NB/JST, GMA News

Tags: ruby, hagupit, pagasa
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