Super Typhoon Champi passes just south of Guam Sunday, cutting power
Super Typhoon Champi passed about 10 miles south of Guam early Sunday local time, just missing a direct hit. Only about half of the island's power circuits stayed online, the power agency said. President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for Guam, which lets FEMA send help.
Super Typhoon Champi passed about 10 miles south of Guam early Sunday local time, narrowly missing the island, as President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for the US territory.
The storm's eye passed south of Guam at about 4:26 a.m. Sunday Guam time (2:26 p.m. ET Saturday), The Guam Daily Post and the Marianas Business Journal reported. KUAM reported that the closest approach came just before 5 a.m. The storm was upgraded to a super typhoon, with sustained winds of 150 mph, around that time, the Post reported.
A National Weather Service forecaster said Guam came close to a devastating hit, the Post reported. Most of the island got tropical storm-force winds with typhoon-force gusts instead, according to the Post. Early reports showed "no widespread significant damage," the forecaster said, but far southern Guam had not yet been assessed.
About half of the island lost power, the Business Journal reported. The Guam Power Authority said about 51% of its feeders, or circuits, remained online, the Business Journal and KUAM reported. KUAM reported that the power system did not black out across the island and that crews would begin 12-hour shifts once winds eased. The Guam Waterworks Authority had 98 of 120 wells online, KUAM reported.
Trump approved Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero's request, which allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate emergency help, the Business Journal and KUAM reported. Guam Memorial Hospital treated one person for minor injuries from a wind-related fall, the Business Journal reported.
Guam remained at Condition of Readiness 1, the highest alert level, and residents were urged to stay indoors, the Post, the Business Journal and KUAM reported. Coastal flood and high surf warnings run until 4 a.m. Monday Guam time (2 p.m. ET Sunday), the Post reported.
Champi was moving west-northwest, away from Guam, and could strengthen to Category 5 by Monday, the Post reported. The tropical storm warning for Saipan and Tinian was canceled, the Post and the Business Journal reported.
What we know: Champi passed just south of Guam as a super typhoon, about half the island lost power, and a federal emergency declaration was approved.
What we don't: How much damage hit far southern Guam and when power will be fully restored.
Where outlets agree The Guam Daily Post and the Marianas Business Journal report that Champi's eye passed about 10 miles south of Guam early Sunday local time, and the Business Journal and KUAM report that Trump approved a federal declaration for Guam.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.