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'Very dangerous' Super Typhoon Bavi nears US Pacific islands
🇮🇪 Ireland /Disasters & Emergencies

'Very dangerous' Super Typhoon Bavi nears US Pacific islands

From RTÉ News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Super Typhoon Bavi is approaching US Pacific territories Guam and the Northern Marianas with winds equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane.
  • Forecasters warn of "catastrophic wind damage," storm surges, and hazardous surf, with the storm expected to bring destructive conditions.
  • The region has experienced devastating typhoons in recent years, including Sinlaku and Mawar, raising concerns about Bavi's potential impact on the islands' infrastructure and inhabitants.

Super Typhoon Bavi is on a collision course with the US Pacific territories of Guam and the Northern Marianas, packing winds comparable to a Category 5 hurricane. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center forecasts sustained winds of up to 280 km/h and gusts reaching 333 km/h as the storm roars westward early Monday.

I cannot afford to lose so many days. It hurts.

— Pinky CubacubA resident of Guam described the financial impact of preparing for the typhoon.

The National Weather Service has issued stark warnings, labeling Bavi "very dangerous" and predicting "catastrophic wind damage" in the storm's immediate vicinity. Residents are bracing for severe conditions, including dangerous storm surges and hazardous surf. On Sunday afternoon, roads in Guam and the Northern Marianas, home to about 210,000 people, were largely deserted as police urged caution. Many residents were seen boarding up windows and securing their homes.

Pinky Cubacub, a 55-year-old resident, spent $500 on plywood to protect her eatery, expressing concern about lost business. "I cannot afford to lose so many days. It hurts," she said. Call center employee Arabella Paulino, 48, described the situation as "scary" but felt her concrete house offered some protection, anticipating only a window might break.

My girls were saying to me it's scary. But it will be okay.

— Arabella PaulinoA Guam resident expressed her family's fear but also a sense of resilience.

Tourists are also affected, with Japanese visitor Miku Sakurai having her flight to Tokyo canceled. "We will stay in the hotel when the storm comes. I am scared," she stated. Meanwhile, a handful of surfers were seen taking advantage of the strong winds at Talofofo Bay in Guam, despite debris in the water.

We will stay in the hotel when the storm comes. I am scared.

— Miku SakuraiA Japanese tourist in Guam described her plans and feelings as the typhoon approached.

This region has a history of severe typhoon impacts. Super Typhoon Sinlaku in April left tens of thousands without power and caused widespread damage. In 2023, Typhoon Mawar, the largest in decades, brought significant devastation. Bavi is forecast to pass closest to Rota, a small island in the Northern Marianas with about 1,500 residents, potentially rendering much of the area uninhabitable for weeks or months. The NWS warned that many non-reinforced homes could be destroyed, trees snapped, and power poles downed, leading to prolonged power outages.

There's quite a lot of debris in the water but it's a lot of fun.

— surferOne of the surfers at Talofofo Bay in Guam commented on the conditions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by RTÉ News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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