Latest News About Super Typhoon Sinlaku

Super Typhoon Sinlaku has recently struck the Northern Mariana Islands in the western Pacific, bringing extreme wind, heavy rain, and widespread damage. The storm reached Category 5 intensity before moving slowly over Saipan and Tinian, the two most populated islands, battering them for many hours.[2][3][6]

Current status and track

Sinlaku formed from a cluster of thunderstorms over Micronesia, rapidly intensified into a super typhoon, and strengthened to sustained winds around 150 mph (about 240–266 km/h), placing it among the strongest tropical cyclones globally so far in 2026. It has now begun to weaken slightly as it continues moving northwest, but it is still expected to pass nearby islands as a strong typhoon rather than a full Category 5.[3][5][2]

Impacts on the Marianas

The storm has caused severe flooding, landslides, and structural damage, with reports of overturned cars, uprooted trees, and destroyed homes and businesses on Saipan and Tinian. Strong winds and torrential rain have also led to power outages and flash‑flood warnings, with emergency crews warning that cleanup and recovery will extend for days or weeks.[7][2][3]

U.S. government response

The U.S. has declared emergency disaster status for both Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, allowing federal agencies such as FEMA to coordinate relief and deploy personnel and equipment. Residents are being urged to stay indoors, avoid flooded areas, and follow local emergency instructions as the system moves away.[5][2][3]