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Signal No. 3 up over three provinces as Ruby moves toward Eastern Visayas


Public Storm Warning Signal No. 3 is up in three provinces in Eastern Visayas as typhoon Ruby (international name: Hagupit) continued its approach toward the Philippines.
 
Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Samar are all placed under Signal No. 3 as Ruby continued to pack maximum sustained winds of 195 kph and gustiness of up to 230 kph, according to the latest bulletin by state weather agency PAGASA.

"Residents in low lying and mountainous areas are alerted against flashfloods and landslides," said the agency. "Likewise, those living along the coast are warned on the occurrence of big waves associated with Storm Surge which may reach up to 4 meters."
 
Heavy damage to agricultural plantation is also expected, with medium and large trees possibly being uprooted. Considerable damage to structure of light to medium construction is also expected, while nipa and cogon houses could lose their roofs or be destroyed. PAGASA highly recommends evacuation to safer shelters.
 
Electrical power distribution and communication services may also be severely disrupted in these areas, according to PAGASA.


 
PAGASA expects Ruby to make landfall on Saturday evening or Sunday morning over the Eastern Samar–Northern Samar area, where it will be associated with strong winds, storm surge of up to four meters, and heavy to intense rainfall.
 
The following areas, meanwhile, are under Signal No. 2: 
- Catanduanes
- Albay
- Sorsogon 
- Masbate including Ticao Island
- Biliran
- Leyte
- Southern Leyte
- Northern Cebu including Cebu City, Bantayan Island and Camotes Island
- Dinagat Province
 
Signal No. 1 is up over the following areas:
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Burias Island
- Romblon
- Southern Quezon 
- Marinduque
- Capiz
- Iloilo
- Antique
- Guimaras
- Aklan
- Negros Oriental
- Negros Occidental
- Rest of Cebu 
- Bohol.
- Surigao del Sur
- Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island
- Agusan del Norte
- Agusan del Sur 
- Camiguin

JWTC: 'Super' again
 
Meanwhile, Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Weather Center (JTWC) upgraded Ruby to a super typhoon, after measuring maximum sustained winds of 130 knots (240.76 kph), compared to 125 knots (231.5 kph) earlier in the day. 

But PAGASA isn't expecting Ruby to intensify.
 
"Sa tingin natin, mababa na yung tsansa na lumakas pa," said weather forecaster Fernando Cada. "Pero malakas pa rin yun."
 
The JTWC still tracks Ruby to go move north compared to the PAGASA forecast.

 
"Ine-expect nila na sa Central Luzon tatama ang bagyo, pero bumababa 'yan sa Visayas," said Cada. "Pero definitely may epekto ito sa Metro Manila."
 
Meanwhile, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), for its part, upgraded the intensity of Ruby from "Very Strong" to "Violent" in its latest bulletin. — JST, GMA News

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