As Guam begins recovery following Typhoon Sinlaku, conditions in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands appear far more severe, with Saipan facing widespread power and communications outages, leaving the island largely cut off.

Social media posts from Saipan describe a devastating scene, with the island losing cell service and electricity, severely limiting communication with the outside world. One account from inside a hospital describes the intensity of the storm, saying the eye wall “beared down for three hours full force”, battering the facility with heavy rain and debris.

Flooding quickly became a threat, as drainage systems were overwhelmed, sending water pouring through multiple entrances.

With limited resources, staff stepped in. From janitorial crews to medical staff to administrators and even the hospital’s CEO, working side-by-side, forming bucket lines to push water out and protect critical areas.

The post calls it a moment of unity, with staff coming together without hesitation to save what was described as “our little mission in the Pacific.”

While Guam begins to assess damage and restore services, Saipan now faces a longer road to recovery with infrastructure impacted and communications still down.

Official updates from CNMI authorities remain limited, but as connections are restored more details are expected to emerge on the full extent of damage and response efforts.