Hurricane season

Dangerous “super typhoon” approaches islands in the Pacific Ocean

A so-called super typhoon is approaching the US territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands in the Pacific Ocean, several media outlets report. Around 210,000 people live on the islands.

The storm, which has been named Bavi, is already equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane and is expected to make landfall on Monday. Wind speeds could reach up to 92 meters per second in the villages.

The local weather service is warning of “catastrophic” effects, and the island of Rota in the Northern Mariana Islands is expected to become “uninhabitable for weeks” if the storm’s eye passes as close as expected, writes the New York Times.

The super typhoon is being strengthened by the ongoing marine heat wave that is currently prevailing in large parts of the Pacific Ocean.

Islanders and tourists prepare: “I’m scared”

In anticipation of super typhoon Bavi, the roads in the US territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands have been almost emptied of cars, writes AFP. Almost only police cars drive around to warn residents.

55-year-old Pinky Cubacub has bought plywood worth the equivalent of thousands of kronor to protect her restaurant.

“I can’t afford to lose so many days of income. It hurts,” she says.

25-year-old Japanese tourist Miku Sakurai was on her way home to Tokyo with her friends, but the flight was canceled.

“We’ll stay at the hotel when the storm comes. I’m scared,” she says.