Typhoon Mawar, a Category 4 typhoon, pounded Guam on Wednesday and caused significant power disruptions and destruction.
The National Weather Service (NWS) stated that the storm had left northern Guam. Mawar's sustained winds are at 140 mph, and as it slowly moves to the northwest, they might get much stronger, according to NPR.
The NWS expects Mawar to steadily strengthen into a Super Typhoon over the Philippine Sea west of the Marianas.
A "triple threat," consisting of strong winds, heavy rain, and a potentially fatal storm surge, had been previously predicted by meteorologists. This cyclone is the strongest to strike Guam in 60 years.
Mawar generated winds of hurricane force throughout Guam's full 30-mile breadth. Wednesday evening saw steady winds of 71 mph and a gust of 105 mph at Guam International Airport, CNN reported.
For the northern region of Guam, an extreme wind warning was issued, warning locals that tornado-like wind speeds might cause serious harm.
As Mawar continued to move northwest, the town of Yigo, which is located in the northernmost part of Guam, took the brunt of the storm's strongest winds and most intense rains.
The NWS recommended citizens take refuge in reinforced inner rooms of concrete structures in an early morning bulletin and highlighted the need to act quickly to save lives, per Fox Weather.
Flood Warnings Still in Effect; Thousands Without Power
As of present reporting, the magnitude of damage brought by Typhoon Mawar is unclear since Guam is still under flash floods and wind warnings.
The Guam Power Authority reported that almost all circuits are without power. Only around 1,000 of the island's 52,000 consumers have access to the electricity grid at the moment.
Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero remembered her encounter with Typhoon Karen in 1962, the most powerful tropical storm to ever affect Guam, which was known for its 175 mph wind speeds.
As soon as the winds stop blowing, Governor Guerrero said she plans to do a quick damage assessment. There have already been reports of property damage and a successful rescue operation that moved eight people to a shelter.
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