Typhoon Ruby
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This article deals with the Pacific typhoon of 1988; for other storms of the same name, see Typhoon Ruby (disambiguation).
| Category 4 typhoon (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Typhoon Ruby emerging from the Philippines on October 15. |
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| Formed | October 20, 1988 | |
| Dissipated | October 28, 1988 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 916 mbar (hPa) | |
| Damage | $220 million (1988 USD) | |
| Fatalities | 540 total | |
| Areas affected |
Philippines, Hainan Island | |
| Part of the 1988 Pacific typhoon season |
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Typhoon Ruby was a destructive late-season Category 4 typhoon during the 1988 Pacific typhoon season. Ruby left 540 dead and caused $220 million (1988 US dollars) in damage. It was named Typhoon Unsang for PAGASA advisories.
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[edit] Storm history
Tracked as the 23rd tropical cyclone of the 1988 Pacific typhoon season, Typhoon Ruby sideswiped Guam and the Marianas Islands before slamming into the Philippine island of Luzon on October 24.
[edit] Impact
Ruby brought heavy rains and a 12 foot storm surge to Guam and the Marianas Islands, leaving enormous damage but no deaths.
On Luzon, the storm's 140 mph (220 km/h) winds caused tremendous damage to the town of Siniloan. In the Polillo Islands, east of Manila, Ruby spawned rare tornadoes that leveled homes. In the northern part of the Philippines, many fishing boats were wrecked by 30-40 foot waves, and 32 more people drowned.
[edit] Sinking of the Dona Marilyn
The passenger ferry the Dona Marilyn was in the Visayan Sea when the storm struck the vessel. The ferry was not designed for deep water, and the open decks let water into the interior of the ship. The storm caused the ferry to pitch to the starboard until one of the decks was below the water, causing the ship to fill up rapidly. The passengers and crew tried to save the ship, but to no avail. The Dona Marilyn sank stern first taking 389 people with it. Only 147 people survived by clinging to life rafts.
[edit] Aftermath
Ruby destroyed 75% of the Philippine rice and sugar harvest and left 765,000 people homeless. Some people had to be rescued from raging floodwaters by helicopter.
