Nearly 900,000 people were evacuated when Typhoon Hagupit (known locally as Ruby) made landfall twice in the Philippines according to the Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.  The typhoon lashed the central and northern parts of the country with life-threatening winds, storm surges and flash floods.

The typhoon knocked out power, mowed down trees and ripped off roofs as it tore through the Philippines’  At least three people, including a baby, are known to have been killed.  There have also been reports of multiple injuries in the country’s eastern provinces.

In the past ten years, six separate tropical cyclones have each claimed over 1,000 lives in the Philippines.  Haiyan/Yolanda killed more than 7,300 in 2013;  Bopha/Pablo resulted in 1,901 deaths in 2012; Washi/Sendong killed 1,268 in 2011; 1,400 died as a result of Fengshen/Frank in 2008; the death toll for Durian/Reming in 2006 was 1,399; and Winnie killed 1,593 in 2004.