Rescue teams and heavy equipment were mobilized across the Northern Mariana Islands on Thursday after a typhoon hit U.S. Western Pacific territories overnight, causing blackouts and damage to critical infrastructure.
With sustained winds of over 270 kph (168 mph), Typhoon Yutu pulled down trees, telegraph poles and tore roofs from buildings as it passed through the chain of 15 islands, located more than 9,000 km west of the U.S. mainland.
"Many homes have been destroyed, our critical infrastructure has been compromised, we currently have no power and water at this time, and our ports are inaccessible," said Joey Patrick San Nicolas, mayor of the island of Tinian.