Nock-ten sends 32 persons to Rota shelters

Typhoon Nock-ten forced 32 persons on Rota to seek refuge at government shelters, but its relatively far distance from the island spared the Northern Marianas from potentially destructive winds.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta cancelled the typhoon condition declarations for Rota—as well as Saipan and Tinian—and declared an all-clear condition at 2:30pm yesterday.

The Emergency Management Office, however, maintained that the typhoon would continue to create rough seas in the Marianas, cautioning small sea vessels and beachgoers of high surf. It also advised motorists to take extra precaution and be watchful of any debris that might be blown by the wind to roadways.

EMO deputy director Mark Pangelinan said the evacuees—31 at the Rota Aging Center in Sinapalo and one at the Rota Health Center in Songsong—began returning to their homes in the afternoon.

Pangelinan said the typhoon caused no major damage to properties and infrastructure on Rota. He said the heavy rainfall lasted only in the early morning.

Nock-ten, which brandished maximum sustained winds of 110mph, passed by 155 miles south of Guam, or about 205 miles south-southwest of Rota, at about 1:50pm.

This location was about 285 miles south-southwest of Saipan and 275 miles south-southwest of Tinian, the EMO said. The typhoon moved west-northwest at 15mph.

“Typhoon-force winds of 74 miles per hour extend outward up to 30 miles and damaging winds of 39 miles per hour extend outward up to 140 miles from the center,” the EMO said.

The relatively far distance of Nock-ten’s eye from the islands spared them from the wrath of the typhoon’s strong winds. Pangelinan said Nock-ten would further intensify as it moves away from the Marianas.

Nock-ten’s wind strength only registered at about 100mph Tuesday afternoon, when it was approaching closer to the Marianas. At about 7:50am yesterday, the typhoon’s maximum sustained winds intensified to 105mph. By this time, the EMO said the typhoon became almost stationary, when its center was about 250 miles south of Rota, 320 miles south of Saipan, and 310 miles south of Tinian.

The typhoon maintained wind strength as it moved closer to the islands. By noontime, the EMO located Nock-ten’s center about 215 miles south of Rota, 295 miles south-southwest of Saipan, and 285 miles south-southwest of Tinian. It resumed moving west-northwest at a faster pace of 16mph, while maintaining maximum sustained winds of 105mph, with higher gusts.