CNMI Reeling From Yutu as Trump Declares Disaster
About 133 people have been treated at the only major hospital in the Northern Marianas since Super Typhoon Yutu devastated the US commonwealth last Thursday. The Saipan hospital said most of the cases were lacerations that required surgery. The category 5 storm passed directly over Tinian, lashing the islands with winds over
350 km/h. It left a trail of destruction across the island and neighbouring Rota and Saipan. The death toll stands at one. A 44 year-old woman died when the building she was taking shel- ter in collapsed on top of her during the typhoon. The injuries and casualties for Rota and Tinian has yet to be reported. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed, with many reduced to piles of splintered rubble. The power grid has suffered extensive damage, and the airport and sea port are still closed.
Medical facilities are using backup generators.
“It’s a big, big devastation for our island,” said Francisco Aguon, a represenative from Tinian in the territory’s legilsature. “A lot of the people out here, they’re walking in the streets feeling like they cannot get through.”
“They don’t know what to do because a lot of the houses out here are blown away,” he told a news conference.
The Tinian mayor, Joey San Nicolas, said president Donald Trump has declared a state of disaster, and a C-17 plane with food and water arrived on Saturday morning.
It’s been described as one of the most powerful storms to have hit anywhere in the United States.
More than 800 people are being cared for in shelters across Saipan and Tinian with more expected in the coming days.
Major disaster declared
The territory’s governor, Ralph Torres, said he had received a call from President Donald Trump on Saturday, who said he had approved the territory’s request for a major disaster to be declared.
Mr Torres said the approval means additional federal assistance will be provided for the Commonwealth as well as disaster assistance.
He said Yutu was the worst storm to hit the Marianas since Typhoon Jean in 1968.