Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Super Typhoon Maysak Kills At Least 5 in Micronesia, Threatens Philippines

Zain Haidar
Published: March 31,2015





 
Two days after causing widespread destruction in Micronesia, Maysak has intensified into a super typhoon and threatens the Philippines along with other island nations in the Western Pacific.
Maysak struck Micronesia's Chuuk State on Sunday evening, killing at least five people and demolishing up to 95 percent of tin houses on the island, according to Guampdn.com.
Communications systems on the island, which has a population around 50,000, were down this weekend, and the full extent of the damage caused by Maysak's battering winds and rain is still unknown.
(FORECAST: Maysak) 
Yap, which is part of the Caroline Islands, and the Philippines are on track to feel Maysak, now the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane, next.
Kembo Mida Jr., a Chuuk State resident and owner of the L5 hotel, witnessed the storm's destruction first-hand and spoke to Marianas Variety.
"Yap must prepare. Chuuk was devastated. L5 also suffered damage from wind and flooding throughout the building. Houses were blown away and trees snapped in half. It was very dangerous and scary," Mida said.
Guampdn.com reports that the Ayuda Foundation is already working to provide aid to Chuuk by filling up a 40-foot container with food and building materials for the island's residents.
In a radio broadcast, Federated States of Micronesia public information officer Marz Akapito said that boats would arrive on Chuuk with water bottles and medical supplies. After Maysak passes Yap, other boats will conduct more thorough damage assessments.
(INTERACTIVE: Current Satellite Loop of Maysak)
Chuuk locals use mango, banana and cocounut trees, many of which were pulverized by Maysak's winds, as a main source of food.
"I was lucky I have a concrete house, unfortunately I (can) not say the same for many of my fellow Chuukese. Ships have sunk. Homes destroyed. Breadfruits, mangoes, bananas and coconuts our local source of food... trimmed down to just stems and branches," resident Hiroyuki Mori said.
Meanwhile, Yap is preparing for Maysak's impacts as the storm approaches with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph.
According to Yap Lt. Gov. James Yangetmai, the outer east islands are in Condition of Readiness (COR) 1 while the western islands are at COR 3. Shelters open at COR 2.
Seeing as though most homes of the island are made of tin, shelter will be necessary if Maysak continues its current track.
A similar situation unfolded in the South Pacific weeks ago.
In mid-March, Tropical Cyclone Pam struck Vanuatu, killing 11 and leaving thousands homeless as it wiped out miles of foliage.
MORE: Cyclone Pam Hits Vanuatu (Mar. 2015)

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