'Ruby' down to 65 kph winds; Metro Manila storm alert lowered

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical storm "Ruby" (international name Hagupit) further weakened on Monday night as it made its fourth landfall in Batangas province.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that as of 10 p.m., the cener of the storm was estimated at 45 kilometers souther of Barangay Ambulong in Tanauan City, Batangas.

It made its fourth landfall at around 5:45 p.m. in Barangay Laiya in San Juan, Batangas.

The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 80 kph. It was moving west at 13 kph.

PAGASA said that the storm was alredy exiting landmass and it may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Wednesday night.

Public storm warning signal number 2 remains hoisted over Batangas, Northern Oriental Mindoro and Northern Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island.

Storm signal number 1, meanwhile, is still hoisted over Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Bataan, Cavite, Laguna, Southern Quezon and the rest of Mindoro Provinces.

PAGASA said the storm will continue to enhance the northeast monsoon and cause thunderstorms.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has confirmed two deaths during the onslaught of "Ruby" in the Visayas. It said more than 1.8 million people were affected by the storm, which entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility as a super typhoon late last week.