Record breaking tremendous hurricane leaves 1500 vacationers stranded on paradise islands
A massive super typhoon dubbed Super Typhoon Sinlaku that threatens to bring destruction has left 1500 tourists stranded on several pacific islands after their flights were cancelled
The storm is already the most powerful to hit the Pacific in half a decade.(Image: AP)
A Category 5 cyclone dubbed Super Typhoon Sinlaku is currently barrelling towards U.S. territory in the Pacific Ocean, threatening to cause devastation and widespread power cuts for both residents and tourists.
Bringing powerful winds of up to 173mph, this colossal typhoon has already been measured as the fiercest storm in the Pacific since 2021, and could get even more powerful as it moves. The Northern Mariana Islands, including Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Guam all sit squarely in its path.
The super typhoon is expected to batter the islands on Tuesday evening and has already left 1,500 holidaymakers marooned. It’s expected to cause major blackouts, severe flooding, and catastrophic wind destruction.
A typhoon represents a spinning storm system, identical to a hurricane or cyclone, distinguished purely by its formation location over warm tropical waters.
A Category 5 storm, the most ferocious tropical cyclone classification, boasts winds exceeding 157 mph. Typhoon Yutu, the last Category 5 tempest to threaten US territory, hammered the Northern Mariana Islands in 2018, causing years of financial devastation.
The National Weather Service warned, “Super Typhoon Sinlaku will bring destructive winds, widespread heavy rain/flooding, thunderstorms, and coastal impacts to the Marianas Islands into Wednesday.”
Warnings of tropical storm-like conditions have also been issued across Guam, an unincorporated territory. The governor’s office confirmed on Tuesday that flights to and from the island have been cancelled, leaving around 1,500 visitors unable to return home.
Super Typhoon Sinlaku, carrying potent winds and heavy rainfall, is anticipated to persist in its onslaught for roughly another 24 hours. While the typhoon will eventually weaken, the ensuing power outages and flood recovery efforts could cause disruption for weeks or even months.
On Sunday, President Trump authorised emergency disaster declarations for the US territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. These declarations allow agencies such as FEMA to provide aid through supplies and recovery operations. In the meantime, US military personnel stationed on Guam have been ordered to shelter in place.
The Northern Mariana Islands are bracing for significantly more severe damage, with Sinlaku forecasted to strike the territory directly within the next 24 hours.
“It’s going to be a very long night,” Aydlett stated, as reported by the Pacific Daily News. “Many of you up there in the CNMI probably have a sleepless night, as it’s going to be very loud, a lot of action going on, and unfortunately, a lot of damage.”
The US commonwealth, primarily the island of Saipan, has a population of approximately 47,000 people. An estimated 400 tourists are also thought to be stranded in the territory.
Typhoon season in the Pacific spans a significant portion of the year, running from mid-February to early December, with the Atlantic season starting in June.
Professional forecasters at AccuWeather have sounded the alarm, predicting that as many as five tropical cyclones are expected to directly hit the US mainland in 2026.
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