‘Dangerous’ category 4 Typhoon Nangka forecasted to head near Saipan

Typhoon Condition 1 is expected to be raised in most of the islands today as a dangerous category 4 typhoon is headed near Saipan.

As of last night, the closest point of approach for Typhoon Nangka was expected to be at 90 miles north of Saipan at 2pm today, according to Homeland Security and Emergency Management deputy special assistant Gerald Deleon Guerrero.

“The forward movement has slowed down,” Deleon Guerrero said.

Earlier, Nangka was expected to be closest to Saipan in the morning but it has slowed down from 17 miles per hour to 9 miles per hour.

Nangka was moving west but is expected to make a west-northwest motion last night through this morning.

Because of its sudden slow movement, Typhoon Nangka is expected to gain strength.

“There is a lot of room to intensify further,” Deleon Guerrero added.

Last night, Nangka’s maximum sustained winds were at 130 miles per hour. Typhoon force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward to 140 miles.

Its eye was located at 245 miles east of Saipan or 295 miles southeast of Pagan.

As of the 8pm bulletin last night, Typhoon Condition 2 was maintained by acting governor Ralph DLG Torres for the islands of Saipan, Tinian, Agrihan, Alamagan, and Pagan.

According to Deleon Guerrero, they are in constant communication with the Northern Islands through Mayor Jerome Aldan.

Currently, there are a total of 20 residents in the three mentioned northern islands.

Shelters open

Under Typhoon Condition 2, shelters were opened to the public.

For Saipan, shelters are Tanapag Middle School, Garapan Elementary School, Koblerville Elementary School, Dandan Middle School, and Kagman High School.

“Because of our problems with communications, we are having the Department of Public Safety, the radio stations and every one, pass and get this message out to the public,” Emergency Operations Center manager Joey Dela Cruz said.

According to acting press secretary Matt Deleon Guerrero, residents who need to be picked up may call the shelter transport at 322-9457.

Because of the approaching typhoon, residents are advised to maintain necessary precautionary measures for gusty winds, heavy rain showers and possible flooding in low lying areas.

Residents are also reminded to secure all loose objects around that need to be strapped down or removed and secured to prevent being picked up and propelled by the strong winds.

Torres shuts down govt

The CNMI government will not open its offices tomorrow due to the approaching typhoon.

According to acting governor Ralph DLG. Torres, non-essential services will be closed, but essential services including the Homeland Security & Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety, Department of Fire and Emergency Services, among others will still be open.

Acting Press Secretary Matt Deleon Guerrero said the advisory was given by the acting governor yesterday afternoon, as the CNMI prepares for another typhoon.

Offices on Capital Hill, including the Governor’s Office and the Legislature started shutting down as early as 4pm after the advisory was handed down.

“Once we get an all clear, then government offices will open the next day,” said Deleon Guerrero.

Summer classes suspended

The Public School System, meanwhile, has suspended its summer classes until further notice as typhoon winds are expected to hit the CNMI today.

Schools were also on standby as emergency shelters as of press time yesterday.

An order issued by Education Cmmissioner of Dr. Rita Sablan yesterday effectively suspended the PSS summer program until further notice.

The one-month program is from June 30 to July 21.

The program offers reading, mathematics, and other courses for PSS students.

The program involves PSS elementary, middle and high schools.

District Court closed today

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona ordered the closure of court yesterday as of 3pm due to the approach of Typhoon Nangka.

Manglona said the court will be closed until tomorrow, Thursday.

“Heavy rainfall and damaging winds are expected,” said the judge in one-page order.

Starting at 3pm yesterday, court staff members along with lawyers and employees of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Probation Office were seen leaving the Horiguchi Building, where their offices are located.

Saipan Tribune requested to be allowed to proceed to the U.S. Coast Guard’s office in the same building for interview about the typhoon, but was told that nobody was there anymore.

Starting at 3:30pm, many motorists began to purchase gas for their vehicles. Gas stations, however, accepted cash only because of Internet problems related to IT&E’s CNMI-wide network outage. (With reports from Ferdie de la Torre, Joel Pinaroc, and Dennis B. Chan)