'Ruby' kills 21 in Borongan: Philippine Red Cross

[Asia2000]

'Ruby' kills 21 in Borongan: Philippine Red Cross

MANILA - At least 21 people were reported dead, many of them drowned as flood waters rose in Borongan, the main town in Eastern Samar, where tropical storm Ruby (international codename Hagupit) made first landfall, the Philippine National Red Cross said on Monday.

The Philippines had evacuated more than a million people as the powerful typhoon approached the country from the Pacific, fearing a repeat of a super storm last year that left more than 7,000 dead or missing.

"We have confirmed reports that 21 people died in Eastern Samar, 16 of them in Borongan," said Gwendolyn Pang, secretary-general of the Philippine National Red Cross.

PNRC Chairman Richard Gordon confirmed at least 16 of the victims died of drowning due to a flash flood in two barangays. He said Red Cross are set to comb the area to check on the fatalities.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Manila confirmed only two dead and three injured. Two others were reported killed outside Samar, the third largest island in the Philippines, since Hagupit hit on Saturday night.

A year after a Category 5 super typhoon travelling roughly the same path left more than 7,000 people dead or missing in the Philippines, authorities took no chances and evacuated entire towns and villages into over 1,500 evacuation centers on Friday and Saturday.

"Ruby" made third landfall at the central Marinduque island on Monday noon.

In the coastal town of Atimonan in Quezon province, north of Marinduque, strong gusts brought large waves that battered seawalls.

Despite the storm warning, some residents said they were confident of their safety.

"We'll keep getting a feel of the situation. We'll only leave once this gets really strong," fisherman Danilo Cortez told Reuters TV.

Source : http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/12/08/14/ruby-kills-21-borongan-philippine-red-cross

See also http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/391623/news/nation/typhoon-ruby-kills-21-in-eastern-samar-philippine-red-cross