Philippines: Typhoon Ruby or Hagupit Could Make Multiple Landfalls

Ruby or Hagupit made landfall in the Philippines at 9:15 p.m. on Dolores, Eastern Samar. Because the Philippines is made up of over 7,000 islands, the typhoon is expected to hit other islands as it makes its way through the archipelago. Because Super Typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda had devastated the Philippines last year, Filipinos have been particularly afraid of Ruby. In preparation for Ruby, over half a million people were evacuated from coastal areas.



From GMA News:

"After making its initial landfall in Dolores, Eastern Samar, at 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, Ruby is expected to make another landfall in Masbate on Sunday morning. It is also projected to make landfall in Sibuyan Island between 2 and 4 p.m. on Sunday, Romblon between 5 and 7 p.m. on Sunday, Tablas Island between 8 and 10 p.m. on Sunday, and Oriental Mindoro between 5 and 7 a.m. on Monday."
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A friend in the island of Cebu emailed yesterday:

"Clouds are getting darker and there’s an eerie silence around. People are anticipating the arrival of Ruby. She seems to change her mind a lot. One moment she’s a supertyphoon, and another she’s not. And the cycle continues. Landfall is expected late this evening or early morning of Sunday. I pray that she just goes away and move where she cannot produce any damage to life and property. It’s only over a year since Yolanda struck. People are still traumatized. "

Another friend said, about Cebu City:
"Its ongoing. Signal No. 2 in the city now and in northern Cebu. Surprisingly, just intermittent rain and gusts of wind. I hope it doesn't get any worse than that. No info yet on Samar but Tacloban is going through it again, though not as bad as Haiyan as yet. Please continue praying for us here. Thanks and regards.

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Here is the prayer that Archbishop Palma of Cebu sent to all priests in his diocese. Wikipedia defines Oratio Imperata as "a set of Roman Catholic invocative prayers consisting of liturgical action and a short, general prayer which the local ordinary or prelate of the church may publicly pray when a grave need or calamity occurs.

People are still bracing themselves as Ruby is expected to travel slowly, meaning there will be more rain, which could cause landslides and flooding.

Please continue to pray for the Philippines.

Read also
Ruby Slams into Eastern Philippines
Cecilia Brainard"s "Childhood in the Path of Typhoons" - CNN
Jews in the Philippines - 1940-2013
A Northern Cebu Couple's Story of Survival

Tags: supertyphoon, super typhoon, storm, typhoon, Ruby, Hagupit, Cebu, Visayas, Tacloban, Central Philippines, #supertyphoon,

This is all for now,
Cecilia