Super Typhoon Bavi batters Western Pacific with devastating winds

The powerful Category 5 storm moved through Guam, Tinian, Saipan, and Rota, with the eyewall making landfall near Rota, where winds reached up to 180 mph (290 km/h) and stronger

GUAM: Super Typhoon Bavi swept across the Mariana Islands on Monday, bringing destructive winds, torrential rain, and a high risk of flash flooding as authorities urged residents to remain indoors and take shelter.

The powerful Category 5 storm moved through Guam, Tinian, Saipan, and Rota, with the eyewall making landfall near Rota, where winds reached up to 180 mph (290 km/h) and stronger gusts were reported. Officials warned that the storm posed an extreme threat to life and property.

Weather authorities forecast between 30 and 51 centimetres of rainfall near the storm’s centre, increasing the danger of flash floods through Tuesday. While conditions were expected to gradually improve in Guam, Tinian, and Saipan later in the day, heavy rain and strong winds continued to impact the region.

Rota, the southernmost island of the Northern Mariana Islands with a population of around 2,000, was among the hardest-hit areas as the typhoon passed directly over the island.

Emergency shelters were opened across Guam, and Governor Lou Leon Guerrero urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and remain inside until the storm passed. She said emergency agencies had completed preparations to protect communities from the powerful weather system.

The Mariana Islands are home to key US military installations, including Andersen Air Force Base, Naval Base Guam, and Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz, making the region strategically significant in the western Pacific.