Fear for “Ruby” prompts residents of Eastern Samar to evacuate

As Typhoon Ruby nears landfall, we hear stories of how people in affected and threatened areas cope with disaster and prevention.

In the rural town of San Julian, Eastern Samar a minor landslide occurred Saturday morning as typhoon Ruby started to dump rains.

Sr. Insp. Michael Oraller, chief of San Julian town police office, said that residents and local authorities helped in the 30-minute clearing of landslide debris.

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Mud and rocks blocked the national road along Libas village around 9:30 a.m. Nobody was hurt by the mudslides.

More than 8,000 residents of the town have been evacuated to public schools outside coastal communities since Wednesday. The local government has pre-positioned relief goods for affected residents.

Meanwhile, in the town of Hernani in Eastern Samar, residents evacuated to safer grounds as early as Wednesday.

Sr. Insp. Dexter Astacaan said that at least 250 families from eight coastal villages took shelter in higher grounds after they were traumatized by storm surges whipped by super typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) last year.

These families are from villages in the town center, Batang, Carmen, Garawon, and Nagaja.

The local government has identified the upland villages of Canciledes, Padang, and San Isidro as safe ground for evacuation.

Super typhoon Yolanda wiped out the entire town center of Hernani and killed 72 of its residents last year.

Hernani is 60 kilometers south from the provincial capital of Borongan City, where typhoon Ruby is expected to make a landfall. (PNA)

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