Ruby reached maximum intensity later that day, before moving ashore along the central portion of Luzon early on October 24.

The passenger ferry MV Doña Marilyn sank in the Visayan Sea en route from Manila to Tacloban City.

[1][2][nb 1] Following an increase in deep convection, a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) was issued by the JTWC early on October 21.

[4][nb 2] At the time of classification, the cyclone was situated about 1,760 km (1,095 mi) east-southeast of Manila on October 21 and moved southwestwards at first.

[6] The same day, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also monitored the storm and assigned it with the local name Usang.

[2] However, data from the JTWC suggested that Ruby rapidly strengthened during this period,[4] ultimately attaining a peak wind speed of 230 km/h (145 mph), and a minimum barometric pressure of 950 mbar (hPa; 28.05 inHg).

[6] While maintaining a small 30 km (20 mi) wide eye,[1] it made landfall over central Luzon early on October 24,[6] while according to the JMA still at maximum intensity.

[2][8] This made Ruby the most intense tropical cyclone to strike the main island of Luzon since Typhoon Patsy of the 1970 season.

[2] While moving in the general direction of Hainan Island,[1] the JTWC estimated that Ruby lost typhoon intensity on the morning of October 27.

[2] Land interaction with the rugged terrain of the island accelerated the weakening trend, and after becoming devoid of deep convection,[1] the JTWC ceased tracking Ruby late on October 28.

[2] Prior to the arrival of Ruby, storm warnings were issued in the Visayas Islands, the northern coast of Mindanao and south to central portions of Luzon.

[16] Due to Ruby's threat to Hong Kong, a No 3. hurricane signal was issued, but was dropped on October 27 once the storm receded.

[18] Ten people were feared dead,[19] including one child,[20] on October 23 when a tornado destroyed six villages near Cagayan de Oro.

[31] According to press reports, water levels in one subdivision of the suburb were nearly 2.5 m (8.2 ft) high, which forced homeowners to either hang on to oil containers, the trunks of banana trees, and other debris to stay afloat, or climb to the rooftops of two-story homes.

[22] A Continental Airlines DC-10 jetliner, which carried 251 passengers from Hawaii, skidded while landing during heavy rain and nearly overshot the runway at the Manila airport,[13] where 24 hour rainfall total exceeded 250 mm (9.8 in).

[22] The 2,855,000 kg (2,855 t) passenger ferry MV Doña Marilyn sank during Ruby in the Visayan Sea, despite altering its course in an attempt to avoid the inner core of the typhoon.

[27] The USS Blue Ridge found four crewmen of the 90 m (295 ft) Philippine freighter Jet Nann Five, which sank to the south of where the Doña Marilyn sunk about 12 hours after the former left Cebu City for Mindanao.

[24] A Philippine navy landing ship and a hospital vessel both capsized in heavy waves off Zamboanga City, but no casualties were reported.

[14] A freighter, the Queen Raquel, broke loose in the storm and smashed into a seawall, which resulted in two security guards being rescued by firemen.

[48] Aided by the monsoon trough, the outer rainbands of Typhoon Ruby brought an extended period of heavy rains across eastern Taiwan.

Telephone service in the eastern and southern parts of the island was disrupted and about 73,000 ha (180,385 acres) of crops were damaged, primarily rice.

[6][nb 4] Near Hong Kong, Ruby brought strong winds, gusting to 121 km/h (75 mph) on Cheung Chau.

A large billboard in the western portion of Hong Kong was blown loose, briefly delaying nearby tram service.

On October 25, Philippine President Corazon Aquino made a surprise visit to a refugee center in Marikina to comfort the typhoon victims and to allocate $500,000 in calamity aid.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs awarded a $25,000 emergency cash grant for the purchase of medicines, canned food, and clothing to the country.

The United Nations Development Programme granted $50,000 worth of medicines, canned food, clothing, blankets, and cooking utensils.

The League of Red Cross Societies donated 4,000 bags of rice, 2,500 containers of milk (combined worth $158,000), as well as more than $250,000 in monetary contributions.

[52] Jose Baldicanas, the nation's Transportation Undersecretary, said the ship was given a permit to sail because the weather was clear when it left for Tacloban.

However, Philip Tuazon, administrator of the government's Maritime Industry Authority, ordered the company in court to explain why they should not lose their license for the accident;[53] On October 28, a four-man Senate committee headed by Senator John Osmena blamed the tragedy on the ship's captain, the Coast Guard, and the Philippine Weather Bureau for permitting the Marilyn to sail from Manila.

[37] On November 2, following an investigation,[54] President Corazon Aquino ordered Sulpicio Lines temporarily closed while the government was asked to inspect the company's crews and ships.