Super Typhoon Sinlaku Devastates Saipan, Leaving Residents Without Power or Water
Super Typhoon Sinlaku struck Saipan in mid-April, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. The Category 4 storm battered the island for nearly two days, flattening homes and crippling essential services. Residents, including members of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, now face a long recovery as power, water, and phone networks remain down a week later. The storm hit with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, tearing through the island for almost 48 hours. Its slow movement and massive size worsened the damage, collapsing roofs, walls, and flooding interiors at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. The 43,000 residents endured the chaos without electricity, running water, or communication.
After the storm passed, strict limits were placed on food and fuel purchases. Water-filling stations rationed supplies, and humanitarian groups set up an emergency desalination plant to provide clean drinking water. Residents queued for hours at a generator-powered laundromat just to wash clothes. When flights finally resumed, donations poured in—handheld fans, baby wipes, hand sanitiser, food, clothing, and children’s shoes. The parishioner impact report highlighted how family, faith, and community bonds helped people endure the crisis.
A week after the typhoon, Saipan remains without basic services, forcing residents to rely on aid and makeshift solutions. The slow recovery has left many dependent on donated supplies and emergency water stations. Rebuilding efforts will take time as the island works to restore power, water, and communication networks.
