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Typhoon Sinlaku Leaves Saipan Devastated
16 Apr
Summary
- Saipan's only hospital experienced severe flooding due to the typhoon.
- Winds of up to 150 mph battered the Northern Mariana Islands.
- Residents may face weeks without power and water after the storm.
Super Typhoon Sinlaku struck the Northern Mariana Islands, including Saipan and Tinian, with ferocious winds and heavy rains starting on Tuesday night and continuing into Wednesday.
The storm caused widespread damage, with the only hospital on Saipan experiencing severe flooding and large resorts losing backup power. Fierce winds, reaching up to 150 mph upon landfall, toppled utility poles, flipped cars, and tore off roofs.
As of Thursday, officials reported that power and water were out across Saipan and Tinian, home to approximately 45,000 people, with many roads impassable. Residents were advised to shelter in place while first responders began assessing the extensive damage left by the typhoon.
Authorities anticipate that some areas may remain without essential services like power and water for several weeks. The typhoon's path continued to pose a threat, curving towards the sparsely populated volcanic islands in the far northern Marianas.
