Super Typhoon Bavi causes 'major damage' in US Pacific islands

Super Typhoon Bavi made landfall on Monday over the tiny US territorial island of Rota in the western Pacific, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain to the Northern Mariana Islands. Authorities on Rota reported 'major damage' as winds of up to 290 kilometres per hour were forecast. 'We are hanging in there. We are experiencing heavy winds and flooding here... Some people already reporting major damages,' said Lou Rosario, public information officer for the Rota Municipal Operations Center. He added that some cellphone services were down due to a fallen tower.

The National Weather Service urged residents on X to 'treat these imminent extreme winds as if a tornado was approaching and move immediately to an interior room or shelter NOW!' Previously, the NWS warned that a direct hit on Rota would make most of the island 'uninhabitable for weeks, perhaps longer.' 'Many non-concrete, non-reinforced homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse,' it said. 'Nearly all trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months.'

Weather service meteorologist Edwin Montvila described Bavi as posing an 'imminent danger to life,' warning that 'entering outside can result in death from flying projectiles. Utility poles and associated power lines will be down.' In addition to Rota, typhoon and flash flood warnings were in effect for Guam, Tinian, and Saipan, while tropical storm warnings and watches were issued for other islands. The storm was expected to bring at least 51 centimetres of rain.

The Northern Marianas and the nearby separate US territory of Guam are home to about 210,000 people. Some islands were still recovering from Typhoon Sinlaku, which hit in April, leaving many without power since then. Sinlaku caused widespread devastation, ripping off roofs, toppling trees, and leaving tens of thousands without power.

The World Meteorological Organisation warned Friday that El Niño, which typically occurs every two to seven years and lasts nine to 12 months, has already begun in the tropical Pacific and is likely to be strong. This natural climate phenomenon warms surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, driving worldwide changes in winds, pressure, and rainfall patterns.