Authorities on the U.S. island of Guam have evacuated residents in anticipation of the arrival of a giant hurricane expected to pose a "triple threat" and ravage the Pacific island on Wednesday.
Hurricane Mawar is about 110 km from the island, with winds of up to 225 km / h, according to the latest US weather forecast.
In its bulletin, the weather forecast predicts that "Hurricane Mawar will pass south of or over Guam."
The bulletin said the giant cyclone posed a "triple threat" as it was likely to bring "high winds" and flood rains and lead to "potentially fatal coastal flooding".
The weather service also explained in its bulletin that this threat is not limited to Guam, but also includes Ruta, the other American island in the Mariana archipelago.
Pago Bay, Guam before Typhoon Mawar's closest point of approach in the next 4.5 hours or so. (Video from MTM Community Chat Group) pic.twitter.com/n8WGLgipXJ
— Guahan (@chamoru) May 24, 2023
In anticipation of coastal flooding, the island's authorities ordered residents of coastal areas to evacuate, noting that when the cyclone arrives, the cyclone is expected to be accompanied by destructive winds of more than 140 km/h.
Guam's governor said it was "the strongest storm in 20 years" and called on the island's 170,<> residents to seek safety.
US President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency on Guam on Tuesday so that federal authorities could provide assistance to the island, the White House said.
Nearly 22,<> U.S. troops and their family members are stationed on the island of Guam.
AB Won Bat International Airport said that due to the hurricane, about 60 flights scheduled to land in or take off from Guam between Tuesday and Thursday had been canceled.