Super Typhoon Bavi, with winds nearing 290 km/h (180 mph) and gusts up to 350 km/h, has made landfall on the US Pacific islands, severely impacting the Northern Mariana Islands. The southernmost inhabited island, Rota, located about 50 km northeast of Guam, is taking a direct hit, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Residents have been moving to emergency shelters and making last-minute preparations. The mayor's office on Rota issued an advisory urging people to prepare for "destructive winds," warning that "conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly, making it unsafe to be outdoors." A spokesperson for Rota's mayor told AFP, "We are experiencing heavy winds and flooding," and noted reports of "major damages."

On Saipan, north of Rota, wind gusts exceeding 161 km/h (100 mph) were recorded at the airport, meteorologist Marcus Landon Aydlett told the Associated Press. Many residents remain without power from the previous super typhoon Sinlaku, which struck Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands in April, killing 17 people and causing approximately $1.5 billion (£1.1 billion) in damage.

The NWS warned that typhoon-force winds are expected to persist until early Monday afternoon and will not drop below tropical storm force until after midnight. Guam, home to about 170,000 people and typically a tourist destination, has opened five evacuation centers in schools, primarily for vulnerable populations. One center reached full capacity by Sunday afternoon, with evacuees being redirected to other sites.

Sources