Super Typhoon Bavi Makes Landfall on Rota; Warnings Issued for Guam and Northern Mariana Islands

Super Typhoon Bavi made landfall on the island of Rota in the Northern Mariana Islands on Monday morning local time. The eye of the storm passed directly over the island, delivering sustained winds of more than 150 mph. Local authorities on Rota received reports of major damages after the passage.

The U.S. National Weather Service stated the storm could bring at least 20 inches of rain to the region. Typhoon and flash flood warnings were in effect for Guam, Tinian, and Saipan. Tropical storm warnings and watches remained in place for other islands in the Northern Mariana Islands.

Guam opened five evacuation centers in schools with a combined capacity of around 1,700 people. One center reached maximum capacity by 13:00 local time on Sunday, and power outages were reported throughout the island that day. Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero urged residents to stay home or at a shelter.

The Port Authority of Guam suspended operations. Andersen Air Force Base restricted access to essential personnel only. The Northern Mariana Islands and Guam are home to about 210,000 people combined.

Rota lies less than 80 km north of Guam. Wind gusts of more than 161 km/h were recorded at the airport on Saipan. The region is recovering from Super Typhoon Sinlaku, which struck in mid-April.