Super Typhoon Bavi Triggers Evacuations in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands

Emergency evacuations are under way in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands as Super Typhoon Bavi approaches the US Pacific territories. The storm is forecast to make landfall early on Monday and pass directly over the islands by Monday afternoon. Officials have warned that destructive conditions could begin well before the centre of the storm arrives.

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The US National Weather Service said Bavi could bring winds of up to 257km/h, or 160mph, along with significant flooding from torrential rain and waves as high as nearly 11 metres, or 35 feet. It said the window to evacuate was rapidly closing for people told to leave by local officials or whose homes are vulnerable to wind or flooding. The agency also warned that winds would pose a deadly threat to anyone venturing outside.

Guam, which has a population of about 170,000, has opened five evacuation centres in schools, with a combined maximum capacity of around 1,700 people. The centres are primarily intended for vulnerable residents. The island's civil defence office said one of the sites had already reached capacity by 13:00 local time on Sunday, and people were being redirected elsewhere.

In Guam, some residents were also taking steps to protect homes and businesses before the storm's arrival. Bavi has been classified as a super typhoon by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, which monitors tropical storms in the western Pacific. The centre said the storm was expected to reach winds of 150 knots, or 173mph, when it arrives over the islands, with gusts as high as 180 knots, or 207mph.

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The National Weather Service said super typhoons have destructive potential similar to a category four or five hurricane, underlining the scale of the threat facing the US territories. The western Pacific is prone to tropical cyclones, but storms of this strength are unusual for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. That makes the current warning especially significant for local authorities, emergency planners and residents who may face flooding, power cuts and damage to buildings and infrastructure.

The situation also highlights the vulnerability of small island communities to fast-moving severe weather systems. What remains unclear is the full extent of damage Bavi may cause once it reaches the islands and how many people will ultimately use the evacuation centres. The storm's exact track and the severity of local impacts will become clearer as it moves closer on Monday.

Officials are expected to continue issuing updates as conditions deteriorate and the evacuation window closes.

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