Chuuk is reeling from the aftermath of Typhoon Sinlaku, which caused one death, left one boater missing and resulted in widespread devastation after pounding the Micronesian state for almost four days.
The ferocious storm wrecked homes and knocked out critical infrastructure, causing power outages and communication blackouts affecting 60 to 70 percent of the island.
Weno, the state’s capital city and the centre of population, was hit the hardest.
Storm surges brought torrential rains, estimated at 15-20 inches, causing widespread flooding and landslides in high-lying areas, according to the Chuuk Disaster and Emergency Operations Centre.
“A falling tree claimed the life of one person on the island of Tonoas, a grim testament to the dangers persisting even away from the shoreline,” states the emergency office’s situation report.
“As the storm rages on, the first tragic confirmations of loss of life have emerged, underscoring the lethal nature of this slow-moving disaster.”
The emergency centre reported two boats capsizing off the coast of Fefen due to violent sea waves. One person is confirmed missing at sea, with search efforts dangerously constrained by the storm conditions.
“Weno is in a state of crisis. People are displaced, roads are blocked by fallen trees and seawater, and the places people normally rely on for help, like government offices and the pier, are now damaged or destroyed themselves,” the report states.
“The hospital is operating on backup emergency power only, raising grave concerns about the ability to sustain life-saving care if fuel supplies or generators fail under the strain,” the emergency centre said.
Chuuk Governor Alexander Narruhn said the government will prioritise restoring essential services, assist families affected by the storm and begin recovery efforts.
Chuuk is the Federated States of Micronesia’s most populous state, with a population of 53,595 and a land area of 49 square miles.
“The typhoon has brought significant challenges, and we recognise the difficulties many of you are facing. However, I want to emphasise that we will overcome these challenges together,” Narruhn said in a public message posted on Facebook.
Sinlaku, a name contributed by the Federated States of Micronesia, refers to the goddess of nature and the breadfruit of Kosrae.
Sinlaku’s forward motion nearly stalled from 09 – 12 April . The system hovered over Chuuk, its ferocity intact, with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.
“The storm’s proximity was alarmingly close—positioned just 75 miles North-Northwest of the Chuuk Lagoon Islands, it is effectively parked over the area, prolonging the relentless wind and inundating storm surge,” the situation report says.
The system initially crawled eastward at 1 mph before eventually picking up speed and taking off from Chuuk.
Officials said several houses have either completely lost their roofs or collapsed entirely. Roads are blocked by huge trees that have been ripped out of the ground and are lying across every roadway.
“Amid the destruction, at least three emergency shelters have been opened, already struggling to accommodate over 100 displaced residents seeking refuge from the typhoon and rising waters,” the emergency centre said.
Radio and telephone communications to the Lagoon and Outer Islands were cut off, leaving information gaps about the situation in remote communities.
In the village of Wichap, four major power lines and all the cellphone towers are down, leaving the area completely without electricity and communication.
Due to severed communications, damage and casualty assessments were based only on sporadic social media feeds. Officials noted that available information represents only a small portion of “a far more catastrophic picture.”
Narruhn assured his constituents that aid is on the way.
“We will work together to rebuild homes, restore infrastructure, and revive our economy. Chuuk has faced challenges before, and we have always emerged stronger,” he said. “Together, we will rebuild and restore our beautiful Chuuk.”
Sinlaku has developed into a Category 5 supertyphoon now hitting the Marianas.
