Power outages, flooding, and structural destruction reported after one of the year’s strongest storms struck Saipan and surrounding islands.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A powerful typhoon swept across U.S. territories in the Pacific this week, leaving widespread damage in its wake after striking the Northern Mariana Islands with destructive winds and heavy rainfall.
Super Typhoon Sinlaku made landfall Tuesday night local time, bringing sustained winds of up to 150 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service. The storm continued to batter the region for hours into Wednesday, causing extensive damage across multiple islands.
Officials reported that vehicles were overturned, utility poles were knocked down, and rooftops were torn from buildings. On Saipan, the largest island in the territory with a population of approximately 43,000, widespread power outages and impassable roads were reported.
Local authorities said initial assessments show significant flooding, downed trees, and damaged infrastructure, though no fatalities had been confirmed as of Wednesday. Jaden Sanchez, a spokesperson for the Saipan mayor’s office, said conditions remained windy and rainy more than 24 hours after the storm passed but had improved compared to the height of the typhoon.
The storm also impacted Guam, where tropical storm-force winds were recorded. Guam, which hosts several U.S. military installations, experienced hazardous conditions but avoided the most severe impacts seen in the Northern Mariana Islands.
By late Wednesday night, Sinlaku had weakened slightly, with sustained winds measured at approximately 125 miles per hour as it moved northward away from populated areas, including Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. Forecasters said the storm is expected to curve toward less populated volcanic islands in the northern region.
Images and video from affected areas showed debris scattered across residential neighborhoods, damaged structures, and vehicles piled atop one another in parking areas. At least one sports facility sustained damage, with metal bleachers reported collapsed due to strong winds.
Emergency response efforts were underway, with the American Red Cross assisting displaced residents. More than 1,000 people were being sheltered across Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, according to agency officials.
Authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage as recovery operations begin across the impacted territories.
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