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Super Typhoon Bavi threatens Guam and Northern Marianas

newsJul 5, 202618398

Emergency evacuations were underway in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands as Super Typhoon Bavi approached with maximum sustained winds up to 280 kilometres per hour and gusts to 333 kmh, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center said. The National Weather Service called the system "very dangerous" and warned of catastrophic wind damage near the eye, along with storm surge and hazardous surf. Howling winds and heavy rain began battering the islands late Sunday, and Bavi was forecast to move westward over the region early Monday. Officials cautioned that if Bavi tracks near Rota, conditions could become catastrophic and many structures "will be uninhabitable for weeks, perhaps longer," the NWS said. AFP reported that Guam and the Northern Marianas, home to roughly 210,000 people combined, saw deserted roads and police advisories urging residents to remain indoors. Rota mayor Aubry Hocog urged preparedness, saying community precautions could protect families, and a local resident described boarding up an eatery and stocking supplies. Meteorological agencies linked rising storm intensity to record-high sea temperatures in June noted by the Copernicus Marine Service and to developing El Niño conditions flagged by the World Meteorological Organization, while emergency services remained on standby for large-scale damage and prolonged disruptions.

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