The inhabitants of this small territory located in the Mariana Islands archipelago had to take refuge when the eye of the storm passed through the northern region with winds of up to 225 kilometers per hour.
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Power supply was interrupted in most of the territory – with around 170 inhabitants – and the Guam Electric Authority considered it too risky to send teams to restore service.
Residents spent a long night in the dark, subjected to a dangerous and noisy meteorological event. “It will be terrifying. There is no electricity unless someone has a generator (or) a partial generator. Calm your kids down,” said Brandon Aydlett, operations officer for the National Weather Service, according to The Guam Daily Post.
Waves of up to nine meters were seen southeast of the island, he said.
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The storm is moving “unbearably slowly” across the north of the island, the Guam Daily Post added.
According to the governor, Lou Leo Guerrero, the eye of the typhoon passed over the Rota Channel, which is between the islands of Guam and Rota.
US President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency on Tuesday so that federal aid can quickly reach the scene, the White House said.
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“I am concerned about the safety of our people. It is the first storm of this magnitude in 20 years,” said Guerrero.
The US national weather agency warned of a triple threat of rain, devastating winds and potentially deadly storms.
After predicting a “direct hit” on Guam, forecasters later said the typhoon had moved north of the island territory.
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According to forecasts, Guam will receive rainfall of 250 to 300 millimeters and in some regions even higher.
About 21.700 U.S. military personnel and their families are based on the island or near several Guam installations, which often house nuclear attack submarines, long-range bombers and electronic listening posts.
American bases also house some of the most important ammunition and fuel depots in the Pacific region.
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Experts predict weather conditions will improve on Thursday, but some fear Mawar will become a super typhoon as it passes through the Philippines.
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