Overview
- Sinlaku slammed Saipan and Tinian with sustained winds above 210 km/h, and its slow movement kept dangerous conditions over the islands.
- Authorities reported widespread power outages and uprooted trees on Tuesday before the storm’s core reached the Northern Mariana Islands.
- All international flights to Saipan were suspended, leaving about 400 travelers stranded as United Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines and T’way Air halted service.
- The White House declared emergencies for the Northern Marianas and Guam, activating FEMA, which sent roughly 100 personnel and coordinated with the EPA, Transportation Department and Army Corps of Engineers.
- Meteorologists call the Category 4–5 strength unusual for April and link it to warmer-than-normal sea-surface temperatures, while officials warn that power and water service could be disrupted for weeks and tourism losses could mount.