Super Typhoon Bavi struck Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands on Monday, bringing intense winds and heavy rainfall. These conditions led to power outages and warnings of flash flooding in these U.S. territories.
Impact on Saipan and Power Outages
Saipan, the capital of the Northern Marianas, experienced an island-wide power outage as Bavi approached with the strength of a Category 5 hurricane. The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation reported the outage occurred on Sunday night.
In Guam, strong winds and gusts caused power lines to fall, resulting in further outages across the island. The Guam Power Authority indicated that additional outages were expected.
Forecast and Warnings
The National Weather Service forecasted 12 to 16 inches of rainfall, with the possibility of up to 20 inches in certain areas like Rota. A typhoon warning, flood watch, and extreme wind warning were in effect for the region.
Precautionary Measures
Authorities in Guam, home to approximately 150,000 residents, activated their highest alert level. They opened evacuation shelters and limited access to U.S. military facilities on the island. The storm led to the cancellation of all flights at main airports on Guam and the Northern Marianas. Several ports also suspended operations.
Ongoing Recovery
This storm hits a region already recovering from Typhoon Sinlaku, which caused significant damage in April. No deaths or injuries had been reported in Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands as of early Monday afternoon.
This situation is still developing, and updates will be provided as they become available.