Residents in Saipan are being urged to stay indoors as Super Typhoon Sinlaku approaches, with peak conditions expected late Tuesday into early Wednesday. Photo / zoom.earth
Residents in Saipan are being urged to stay indoors as Super Typhoon Sinlaku approaches, with peak conditions expected late Tuesday into early Wednesday. Photo / zoom.earth
Residents across Saipan in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) are being urged to remain indoors as Super Typhoon Sinlaku is expected to lash the island overnight, with officials warning the most dangerous conditions will peak late Tuesday into earlyWednesday.
CNMI’s Governor David Apatang said the strongest winds are forecast about 10pm (midnight NZT) “all the way to midnight, probably to early morning, and probably Thursday”.
Damage caused by strong winds and rain from Super Typhoon Sinlaku in Saipan along Beach Rd, Garapan. Photo / Mark Rabago, RNZ
Clement Bermudez, special assistant for homeland security and emergency management, gave a broader estimate of the storm’s peak impact window.
“The best estimation is three hours before midnight and three hours after midnight,” he said in a Zoom meeting with reporters.
Bermudez said forecast models still show the storm tracking towards the CNMI, while acknowledging a less likely scenario that could spare the islands.
“The typhoon is still tracking to go north, directed towards us,” he said.
“There’s a trajectory going to northeast, but let’s not be mistaken that the most likely course of action for this typhoon is directly to us... We pray that it goes further northeast and away from us, but unfortunately, that is not in our case.”
The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands' special assistant for homeland security and emergency management Clement Bermudez (left) and Governor David Apatang during a press briefing on Tuesday. Photo / Mark Rabago, RNZ
Both officials repeatedly stressed the need for residents to shelter in place as conditions worsen.
Bermudez echoed the warning: “We urge you again to please seek safety and do not take this lightly… stay indoors, away from windows, as far interior as you can.”
Officials identified Kagman as an early area of concern as Sinlaku’s outer bands begin sweeping across the island.
“Strong winds in Kagman,” Apatang said, adding that conditions are expected to deteriorate significantly overnight.
On utilities, Apatang said water service remains largely intact for now, though widespread power outages are expected.
“I think that the water’s still running. So I believe we have generators at the wells, but as far as power is concerned, a lot of the lines are down with the trees,” he said.
Bermudez said that “as soon as it’s safe, Commonwealth Utilities Corp crews are ready to deploy to restore power and restore water”.
The Governor’s request for a federal emergency declaration has already triggered support from Washington, Bermudez said.
“They’re ready to throw their support to the Commonwealth once this is clear, which is maybe Thursday,” Apatang said.
“Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero has reached out directly to the Governor … my counterpart in Guam has already reached out. Even as far as Hawaii Emergency Management Agency … they’re offering and reaching out to us,” Bermudez said.
“That’s how much support that’s waiting to deploy to help you all the way to [Washington] DC.”
