(Eagle News Service) – Tropical Depression “Ruby” further weakened as it moved southwest out into the West Philippine Sea, leaving in its wake at least eight people dead and at least 150 injured.
As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, Ruby (international name Hagupit) only had maximum winds of up to 45 kilometers per hour. It was estimated to be 215 kilometers west northwest of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said more than 2.2 million people were affected by Ruby which made landfall five times in the country starting Saturday, Dec. 6.
More than P1 billion worth of damage to agriculture had been reported because of “Ruby”, according to the NDRRMC.
The eight confirmed dead, based on the NDRRMC’s consolidated report, are Aries Mercedes from Quezon, John Ramos Blanca from Oriental Mindoro, Jimmy Cardente from Cebu, Narciso Alvarez and Velasco Tacuma from Western Samar, Princess Abelgas from Samar, and Gidmore Baylon and Sunny Recto from Biliran province. This list did not include the two fatalities from Iloilo — one-year old Thea Rojo, and 65-year old Ernesto Baylon — whom the NDRRMC had earlier reported.
As of NDRRMC’s 3 p.m. update, more than 1.6 million individuals have been served in evacuation sites.
At least P63.7 million worth of assistance had been provided to those affected by typhoon Ruby, based on reports to the NDRRMC.
