Super Typhoon Sinlaku lashed the Northern Mariana Islands for more than 50 hours, according to National Weather Service Meteorologist Brandon Aydlett. It brought sustained winds of 150 mph, flooding across villages, and unrelenting waves.
Aydlett told Marianas Press that Sinlaku was nearly twice the size of Typhoon Mawar, which passed north of Guam in 2023 as a Category 4 typhoon with 145 mph winds. However, its distinct and menacing feature was that it had a diameter of 450 miles of tropical storm winds; Mawar’s diameter of tropical storm force winds was 230 miles. “It is impressively massive,” he said.
CNMI Governor David Apatang has not issued the all-clear as of Thursday evening. At 11 p.m. on April 16, 2026, the CNMI was still in Typhoon Condition 1, meaning there are sustained winds of 45-60 mph with gusts up to 60-80 mph.
In a phone interview streamed live on Marianas Press’ Facebook page, Aydlett said the NMI could wake up to some blue skies and pockets of sunlight as the region starts to recover from yet another super typhoon.
Aydlett also viewed the aftermath from a military plane flying across the Marianas. He said, “It was a significant difference in impacts whether you are looking at a concrete structure or a completely non-concrete structure. The damage profile was profound. It just goes to show the importance of having reinforced concrete on our islands for any type of residences, any type of building.”
A first responder fueling at Shell Dandan Gas Station, Patrick George, told Marianas Press that they have been working since Sunday. “We cleared a lot of roads…finally we are refueling. We need to rescue a lot of people that are stuck in the secondary roads. We are so glad that the fuel is up and running so we are going to be out opening some secondary roads.
The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation said that as of 8 p.m. on April 16, 2026, more than 11,000 residential homes are without power on Saipan, more than 700 homes are without power on Tinian, and more than 600 homes are without power on Rota. Water services on Saipan and Tinian range from low pressure to no water at all. Rota’s water is online. A precautionary boil water notice is in place CNMI-wide. MP learned that more than 500 people have evacuated to government shelters as of 12 A.M. Friday.
In a speech on the U.S. House Floor, Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds told the nation’s leaders, “Mr. Speaker, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands are strong. We prepare, we endure, and we rebuild. But let me be clear, resilience should never be mistaken for self-sufficiency. We are a small, remote island community…the need for a fast coordinated federal response is critical….Now we must act with urgency and precision.”
Saipan resident Vinnie Sablan wrote on social media, “It's hard to admit how accustomed we've become to this. 2015, typhoon souldelor. 2018, yutu. and now, eight years later, sinlaku. still trying to recover from the last two cyclones, my heart is heavy thinking about being taken back to the beginning, once more.”
A Rota resident, who requested anonymity, recounted their experience during the storm. “My family and I faced flooding and a power outage. Although it wasn't a major issue for us, we were worried about the power outage because our relatives on another island were also affected. With the power cut off, our biggest concern was that once our devices died, we'd lose contact with our loved ones and wouldn't be able to check on their well being.”
A Tinian resident who shared photos of the aftermath on island with MP described the island as “very bare,” with images reflecting the devastation seen on Saipan and Rota.
In addition to federal support, there are multiple organizations already organizing for aid to reach those most in need, including the Micronesia Climate Change Alliance, Kutturan Chamoru Foundation, Inafamaolek.US, and Inafa’Maolek Mutual Aid group.
This is a developing story on Marianas Press.
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