Agencies
New York
Typhoon Mawar, a Category 4 storm, has reached the United States territory of Guam, pummelling the island with fierce wind and rain and knocking out power as residents try to ride out the storm in homes and shelters.
The National Weather Service (NWS) stated that the storm hit the northern tip of Guam on Wednesday evening, with maximum wind speeds of up to 225kph (140mph). The weather service said that conditions are expected to intensify through Thursday.
“The center of Typhoon Mawar is passing just north of Guam today with destructive winds, life-threatening storm surge, and torrential rain which may result in landslides and flash flooding,” the NWS states on its website. “A Typhoon Warning remains in effect for Guam and Rota. A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for Guam.”
To address destruction on the island and aid in recovery efforts, an official for the US Navy told The Associated Press on Wednesday that it would deploy several ships to Guam.
They include an aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz, as well as the missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill and the destroyer USS Wayne E Meyer. The ships are expected to leave from Japan and arrive in Guam within four days.
