A powerful super typhoon, equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane, has hit the US Pacific Islands, posing a significant threat to key military installations in the region. The storm, named Super Typhoon Bavi, made landfall on the island of Rota in the Northern Mariana Islands, bringing with it maximum sustained winds of over 180 mph.
Impact on Military Bases
The US military has a significant presence in the region, with Andersen Air Force Base and US Naval Base Guam being two of the most important installations. The Air Force rotates bombers, including B-1s, B-2s, and B-52s, through Andersen to project power across the Pacific. The naval base is also home to five US Navy attack submarines.
More than 7,000 active-duty military personnel are based on Guam, which has a total population of over 150,000 people. The US military on Guam has posted on social media that it is in its top level of storm readiness and expecting damaging winds.
Storm Surge and Flooding
The powerful winds and torrential rainfall associated with the typhoon are expected to cause catastrophic damage to structures, down trees and power lines, and produce prolonged power outages. Life-threatening coastal flooding is also expected as powerful onshore winds drive storm surges onto coastlines, while enormous waves and dangerous surf make marine conditions extremely hazardous.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
