United States (AFP) – A "super typhoon" with equivalent force to a category-5 hurricane made landfall on the US island of Rota in the Pacific on Monday, the National Weather Service said, warning of "catastrophic damage and (a) life threatening situation".
Issued on: 06/07/2026 - 00:08
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"The western eyewall of Super Typhoon Bavi is currently moving over the island of Rota. The latest forecast intensity is at 180 mph (290 kph) as it passes over Rota," the NWS said. "Catastrophic winds exceeding 150 mph will continue across Rota during eyewall passage."The weather system also brought extremely strong winds and lashing rain to other parts of the Northern Marianas and the nearby separate US territory of Guam, collectively home to around 210,000 people.The island group around 6,000 miles west of the western mainland United States was already hit by another super typhoon in April, Sinlaku, that caused widespread devastation, ripping off roofs, knocking over trees and leaving tens of thousands without power.In 2023 another massive typhoon, Mawar, the biggest in decades, did huge damage.Before the NWS had said 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.""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," it said."By working together and taking the necessary precautions, we can help protect our families, neighbors and community. We pray for the safety of our people," Rota Mayor Aubry Hocog had said Sunday.The small island, the southernmost of the Northern Marianas, is home to around 1,500 people.'It hurts'
