Guam's governor warned residents in the U.S. territory of a "possible direct hit" from Super Typhoon Mawar as it strengthened into a dangerous Category 4 storm in the Pacific Tuesday, just shy of Category 5 intensity.
Threat level: Guam's governor declared a state of emergency for the U.S. territory, which has a 168,000-strong population and is home to three American military bases, ahead of the storm's expected arrival Wednesday midday local time as as a possible super typhoon. The eye of the storm was on track to pass directly over Guam.
The National Weather Service office in Guam said Tuesday the "powerful" storm was continuing to intensify as it neared the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, where President Biden approved an emergency declaration late Monday.
Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero ordered all residents in low-lying areas of the island to evacuate to shelters in higher ground no later than 6pm Tuesday local time. "Mawar is a real threat and a possible direct hit to our island," she said in a video address Tuesday.
The NWS is warning residents to relocate urgently to ""solid, reinforced concrete structures" that can best withstand the storm's high winds.
