MANILA, Dec. 7, 2014— A man died in the middle of an evacuation yesterday as typhoon Ruby was heading for Eastern Samar, following a suspected heart attack brought on by panic.
Basilio Sumuok, around 65 years old, and his family were reportedly evacuating to a school, roughly a kilometer away from their coastal residence in Dolores town, and is thought to have suffered an acute cardiac failure.
Evacuees wait out typhoon Ruby at the convent of St. Peter of Alcantara Parish Church in Oras, Eastern Samar. (Photo: Fr. Jonas Rebamontan) His wife was also brought to a private hospital last night due to high blood pressure.
Fr. Adams Albert, Dolores parish priest, said local authorities yesterday ordered the evacuation of residents in coastal villages amid threats of 3- to 4-meter storm surges when typhoon Ruby slams into Eastern Samar and nearby provinces on Saturday evening.
“I was actually able to bless his body before he was brought to Buenavista, an upstream village,” Albert said.
The priest said hundreds of families are now taking shelter inside classrooms turned into temporary evacuation centers.
Albert also called on the faithful to keep praying for protection from the typhoon.
A Marian procession, he added, was also held last night at the evacuation centers. (CBCPNews)