Typhoon Mawar Makes Landfall on Pohnpei

Typhoon Mawar, a powerful Category 4 storm, made landfall on Pohnpei early on Tuesday morning, local time. The storm brought heavy rains and strong winds, causing widespread damage.

The National Weather Service in Tarawa, Kiribati, issued a typhoon warning for Pohnpei and Chuuk State, as well as a tropical storm warning for Kosrae State. The storm was expected to bring sustained winds of up to 150 miles per hour and gusts of up to 200 miles per hour.

Pohnpei Governor David Panuelo declared a state of emergency on Monday, and urged residents to take shelter. "This is a very serious storm," Panuelo said. "We need everyone to stay safe."

The storm made landfall near the town of Kolonia, and quickly moved inland. Winds gusted up to 175 miles per hour, and heavy rains caused flooding and landslides.

The storm knocked out power and water service to much of the island. Roads were also impassable in many areas.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. However, the full extent of the damage is not yet known.

Pohnpei is a small island with a population of about 100,000 people. The island is located in the Federated States of Micronesia, a group of islands in the western Pacific Ocean.

Typhoon Mawar is the latest in a series of powerful storms to hit the Pacific region this year. In March, Typhoon Malakas made landfall on the Philippines, killing at least 20 people. And in April, Cyclone Pam hit Vanuatu, killing at least 11 people.

The Pacific region is particularly vulnerable to typhoons and cyclones. The storms are caused by warm ocean waters and strong winds. They can cause widespread damage, including flooding, landslides, and power outages.

Residents in the Pacific region are urged to be prepared for typhoons and cyclones. They should have a plan in place in case a storm strikes. This plan should include a place to go for shelter, a way to communicate with family and friends, and a way to get food and water.