‘Very dangerous’ Super Typhoon barrels towards US Pacific islands with 280 kmph winds

Emergency evacuations were underway in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands as a powerful super typhoon approached US Pacific territories, bringing destructive winds and heavy rainfall, according to local weather agencies.Howling winds and lashing rains had already begun battering the islands late Sunday, hours before the projected arrival of what authorities described as a ‘super typhoon’ with strength equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane.The National Weather Service (NWS) warned of severe conditions, calling the system “very dangerous” and cautioning of “catastrophic wind damage” near the eye, along with storm surge and “hazardous” surf.Super Typhoon Bavi was forecast to move westward over the region early Monday, with maximum sustained winds reaching up to 280 kilometres per hour and gusts of 333 kmh, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.AFP reported that Guam and the Northern Marianas, home to around 2,10,000 people combined, saw deserted roads and police advisories urging residents to remain indoors as conditions deteriorated.One resident, preparing for the storm, told AFP that she had stocked supplies in advance. “I cannot afford to lose so many days. It hurts,” she told AFP while boarding up her eatery.A tourist stranded due to flight cancellations said, “We will stay in the hotel when the storm comes. I am scared.”Officials warned that if the system tracked near Rota in the Northern Marianas, conditions could become catastrophic, with the National Weather Service stating that many structures “will be uninhabitable for weeks, perhaps longer,” with widespread destruction expected.According to AFP, Rota mayor Aubry Hocog urged preparedness, saying, “By working together and taking the necessary precautions, we can help protect our families, neighbors and community. We pray for the safety of our people.”Meteorological agencies have linked the increasing intensity of such storms to warming oceans, with the EU’s Copernicus Marine Service noting record-high sea temperatures in June. The World Meteorological Organization has also warned of El Niño conditions developing in the Pacific, which typically intensify storms and disrupt global weather patterns.Authorities continue to monitor the typhoon’s path as it approaches the islands, with emergency services on standby for potential large-scale damage and prolonged disruptions.