Three women drown

Three women drowned on beach waters off Chalan Kanoa yesterday afternoon after being pulled under by the rough waters brought on by the approaching tropical storm Tingting, authorities said.

Tingting may directly hit the Marianas with intensified strength this morning, prompting authorities to open nine Saipan public schools as emergency shelters for potential evacuees and the cancellation of flights of at least one international air carrier yesterday.

The National Weather Service detected a monsoon trough south of the Marianas, while another storm, Mindulle, was headed toward the Philippines, which is located west of the islands. Once Tingting makes landfall on the islands, the Emergency Management Office said damaging winds could extend up to 110 miles from the storm’s center.

Police said emergency responders pulled out four Chinese-looking women from the waters across the Aquarius Beach Tower yesterday afternoon after they were pulled under, apparently due to rough waves midway from the beach to the reefline. Three of the women were reportedly confirmed dead upon reaching the Commonwealth Health Center. The identities of the women were not immediately available as of press time, while the fourth woman’s condition has yet to be ascertained.

At 11:30am yesterday, the EMO said Tingting’s center would pass over the Marianas this morning and bring damaging winds to its three major islands—Saipan, Tinian and Rota—as well as Guam.

At this time, the EMO said Tingting’s wind strength is at 60 miles per hour and located about 255 miles east-southeast of Saipan, 275 miles east of Rota and 260 miles east-southeast of Tinian. The EMO said Tingting was moving northwesterly at 12 mph.

At 2:30pm yesterday, Gov. Juan N. Babauta upgraded his storm condition declaration to condition II, which meant that storm conditions could be felt on the islands within 24 hours.

The storm maintained its strength but moved northwesterly at a slightly faster forward velocity of 13 mph at this time. The EMO said the storm was located about 225 miles east-southeast of Saipan, 248 miles east of Rota, and 230 miles east-southeast of Tinian.

By 4pm, the storm moved closer to the Marianas and was located about 195 miles east-southeast of Saipan, 220 miles east of Rota, and 200 miles east-southeast of Tinian. It retained its 60-mph wind strength, as well as forward velocity and direction.

“The forecast track bring the center of Tingting just north of Saipan mid-Monday morning and bring damaging winds to Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan beginning early Monday morning. A small change in the track could put any of these islands in its direct path,” an EMO advisory stated.

EMO deputy director Mark Pangelinan said Agrihan, an island in the Northern Islands, has also been placed on typhoon watch. He said the EMO yesterday notified at least eight residents of the island to move to a temporary shelter.

Pangelinan also said nine schools on Saipan were designated as emergency shelters, although there was no reported evacuation of residents as of press time. Heavy rains that began Saturday ponded several areas on Saipan.

Pangelinan said Public School System buses would bring evacuees who have no means of transportation to evacuation shelters. He said those who might need transportation service could call the EMO at 322-8001 to 3, or the shelter nearest to them.

The designated shelters, their respective managers and telephone numbers are as follows:

• Tanapag Elementary School, Lucia Lieto, 664-3425;

• Garapan Elementary School, William Lieto, 664-3400;

• Oleai Elementary School, Edward Suzuki, 664-3942;

• Marianas High School, Joseph Borja, 664-3874;

• San Vicente Elementary School, Mary Brown, 664-3981;

• William S. Reyes Elementary School, Estanislao Limes, 664-3971;

• Kobler Elementary School, Joe Etpison, 664-3961;

• Dandan Elementary School, John Quitugua, 664-5025;

• Kagman High School, James Lizama, 664-3780.

The EMO advised potential evacuees to bring with them their personal supplies, such as food, water, pillows, blankets and medicine.

Inclement weather prompted yesterday’s cancellation of incoming and outbound Northwest Airlines flights from and to Japan. At least 14 tourists staying at the Saipan World Resort were stranded and had to extend their stay due to yesterday’s flight cancellations, according to a hotel staff, KC Chon.

Japan Airlines’ flight to Japan yesterday afternoon was slightly delayed. An airport sales agent said the flight had to accommodate some stranded passengers who had originally booked for the Northwest flight.

Continental Micronesia vice president for sales and marketing Wally Dias said the airlines had no flight cancellations as of press time. He said flight arrivals and departure to and from Saipan remained on schedule.

Pangelinan said storm conditions were exacerbated by the presence of a monsoon trough—a weather condition characterized by cloud formation and rainshowers—south of the Marianas.

Weather forecasters also detected another storm, Mindulle, several hundred miles east-northeast of Manila, the Philippines. The storm, however, was moving northwesterly away from the Marianas.