Super Typhoon Bawi has unleashed severe destruction across Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, both located in the Pacific region of the United States. The massive storm made landfall on Monday with sustained winds of around 290 kilometers per hour and gusts reaching as high as 350 kilometers per hour. The National Weather Service (NWS) has called it extremely dangerous and a severe threat to life, warning that it could cause widespread and catastrophic damage.
Rota island takes the direct hit
According to weather officials, the most severe impact of this super typhoon is being felt on Rota island in the Northern Mariana Islands, since the eye of the storm is passing directly over it. The NWS reported that Rota is experiencing destructive winds exceeding 150 miles per hour, or roughly 240 kilometers per hour, with conditions continuing to deteriorate. Officials say early reports from Rota point to heavy damage, uprooted trees, damaged homes and flooding in several areas. A spokesperson for the Rota mayor's office said strong winds and waterlogging conditions persist across the island, with large scale damage reported from multiple locations. The spokesperson urged people to stay indoors, while local authorities had already warned that weather conditions would deteriorate rapidly and that being outdoors could prove fatal.
Warnings issued for all four islands as sea swells rise
Typhoon warnings have been issued for Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan. Wind gusts exceeding 161 kilometers per hour were recorded at Saipan's airport. Meteorologists say continuous, heavy rainfall combined with rising sea swells could make the situation even more severe. The NWS has estimated that ocean waves could rise as high as 11 meters, or nearly 35 feet, posing a serious threat of destruction to coastal areas. Local meteorologist Landon Aydlett said this is an extremely powerful super typhoon and that conditions could turn almost catastrophic on the island bearing its direct impact. He expressed particular concern for Rota, noting that power supply has already been disrupted in several places because of the storm, while the risk of falling trees and utility poles from the strong winds remains constant.
Guam's governor declares a state of emergency readiness
Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero placed the entire island on high level emergency preparedness status on Sunday. She urged residents to stay safe indoors, avoid unnecessary travel and keep completely away from the ocean. The administration has specifically advised people living in low lying areas and in wooden or tin homes to move to safer locations immediately, since such structures are ill equipped to withstand powerful winds.
Shelters fill up fast, leaving some without space
Five schools in Guam have been opened as temporary relief shelters, with arrangements made to house around 1,700 people. Despite this, one relief center was already completely full by Sunday afternoon, forcing authorities to redirect people to other centers. Shelters in the Northern Mariana Islands have also filled up to near capacity, with reports emerging from several locations of people being unable to find space, adding pressure on authorities to expand emergency arrangements further.
Wounds from April's Typhoon Sinlaku had not yet healed
This disaster is seen as especially serious because Super Typhoon Sinlaku had already caused heavy damage to Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands earlier this year in April. That storm killed 17 people and caused around 1.5 billion dollars in economic damage. Power systems in several areas had still not been fully restored when Super Typhoon Bawi struck, bringing yet another devastating natural disaster to communities already reeling from the earlier storm.
Flights cancelled, port and air base operations disrupted
Power has already gone out in several parts of Guam because of the storm. A number of flights have been cancelled, and the Guam Port Authority has temporarily suspended its operations. Andersen Air Force Base has also allowed only essential personnel onto the base. The weather service has additionally warned of the risk of flash flooding and landslides, with hospitals, schools and other public facilities also expected to be affected.
Both residents and tourists caught in the storm's path
The super typhoon has affected both local residents and visiting tourists. A woman running a small restaurant in Guam spent around 500 dollars covering her establishment's windows with plywood. She said she had started the business only recently and would suffer financial losses with the shop shut for several days. Meanwhile, Japanese tourist Miku Sakurai had her flight to Tokyo cancelled. She said she would now be staying at her hotel and was extremely frightened by the storm.
What actually makes a storm a super typhoon
According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), a cyclone in the western North Pacific region is classified as a super typhoon once its winds exceed 240 kilometers per hour. The NWS says its destructive potential is equivalent to a Category 4 or Category 5 hurricane. Experts say climate change and strong El Nino conditions in the Pacific Ocean are driving an increase in the number of such extremely powerful tropical cyclones. Data shows that in the last decade, 11 tropical cyclones have reached Category 4 or Category 5 strength in US regions, compared to just 10 such storms recorded in the previous 57 years. Scientists believe rising ocean temperatures are set to increase both the frequency and intensity of such powerful storms in the future.
