LOS ANGELES: Typhoon Mawar roared over the United States territory of Guam on Wednesday, bringing devastating winds to the Pacific military outpost.
The eye of the heavy storm passed just north of the island, its Governor Lou Leon Guerrero said, after forecasters had warned that the gushing winds of up to 225 kilometers per hour could cause massive damage.
The governor said in a Facebook video that he feels now that the eye of the storm is going over the Rota Channel. He was referring to the body of water between the islands of Rota and Guam.
Earlier, the local authorities issued evacuation orders, and they also opened temporary shelters. At the same time, US President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency for the island of 170,000 population, clearing the way for federal assistance.
A 46-year-old middle school teacher in the area, Beckie Merrill, told AFP that he is in a concrete-reinforced house and his windows are closed. He did go outside briefly, and the winds were very gusty with intermittent rainfalls.
Direct hit on Guam
After warning of a “direct hit” on Guam, forecasters later informed the typhoon had moved just north of the island.
The US National Weather Service told AFP that it seems like they getting a near hit with the eye of a storm passing through the Rota Channel.
Forecasters said that predictions of extreme winds and floods had been issued for the area, with wind speeds of seventy-four miles per hour already recorded.
Guerrero said that he was worried for the safety of the people. This is the first storm of this level in twenty years.
