Hurricane (Typhoon) — Micronesia, Guam

2015-03-26 to 2015-03-31 · Micronesia, Guam

Event narrative

On the night of the 26th of March, a tropical disturbance was noted 135 miles east-southeast of Pohnpei. It became the subject of a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert issued by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. By the afternoon of the 27th the system intensified to become Tropical Depression (TD) 04W. It was located 35 miles west of Pohnpei at that time. By the night of the 27th, 04W had become a tropical storm. At that time, it was located 320 miles east of Chuuk. The tropical storm was eventually named Maysak.

By the morning of the 29th, Maysak intensified into a typhoon. At this time, it was

65 miles east of Chuuk and 30 miles north of Losap. The typhoon passed across Chuuk Lagoon on that day. The highest wind gust recorded at the Weather Service Office (WSO) on Weno Island in Chuuk Lagoon on the afternoon of the 29th was 71 mph. The typhoon also brought between 6 and 7 inches of rain to Weno Island in Chuuk Lagoon.

The typhoon caused four reported deaths on Weno in Chuuk State, two adults and two children. One male adult died after a tree fell on his house and the other adult died in a mudslide. One of the children died from injury due to a sheet of airborne tin and the other child was a newborn in distress who did not make it to the hospital because fallen trees blocked the roads. Ten additional people were treated for injuries sustained from Typhoon Maysak.

International Office for Migration (IOM) staff in Weno, Chuuk, reported roofs of buildings blown off, damaged seawalls, power lines down, and that a number of houses, stores, and local market stands were destroyed. Damage to crops was extensive with breadfruit, coconut, and mango trees being felled. The damages included 80 percent of the breadfruit and banana trees were damaged and 80 percent of taro plants were also damaged. 830 homes were heavily damaged or destroyed in Chuuk and more than 6700 people were displaced.

Apart from the damage across the Chuuk Lagoon and several atolls, the typhoon was also responsible for the sinking or damaging of vessels at the Chuuk port. The Truk Siren and Lien Pwaki, two vessels in Chuuk Lagoon, sunk or were partially submerged as a result of the storm. Nien Neufich, Nien Chuuk, Miss Transco, The Odyssey, Micro Peace, Exodus and the Chinese vessel, Wing Dong, had run aground and were damaged. The Exodus sank at Mechitiw.

Other locations in Chuuk State also reported damage. On the 29th of March, Fananu and Nomwin reported damage to crops. Onoun reported that food crops were destroyed. Polowat indicated the there were damages to trees, crops and houses. In Pollap, it was reported that 'almost all' houses are seriously damaged,

and that trees and crops damaged. A situation overview via SSB radio between Disaster Coordination Office (DCO) staff and a Municipal government official on Losap Island in the Upper Morlocks indicates partial damage to water and food supplies and agriculture, and identified their most critical need as food. An estimated $2.4 million damage was done to Chuuk's infrastructure.

After passing through Chuuk State, Typhoon Maysak crossed Yap State. On the evening of March 30th, the storm passed about 30 miles to the north of Yap's outer island of Faraulep. This island has an estimated population of 170 people. Radio communication with the island on the next day indicated that there were no injuries or fatalities caused by the typhoon. Fruit trees were, however, reported down, but boats were undamaged. There was also contamination of fresh water wells and taro

patches were inundated with salt water. There was also damage to buildings including the dispensary.

On the afternoon of the 31st Maysak become a Super Typhoon. A super Typhoon is one that has winds equal to and exceeding 150 mph. At this time Maysak was only 55 miles east-northeast of Fais. Late on the night of the 31st, Maysak passed about 55 Mile northwest of Fais and 35 miles northeast of Ulithi. Communications with the Ulitihi High School principal on the morning of 31 March revealed that there were 'about 600' people on the island. The FSM 2010 Census indicates 294 people on the island of Fais, which is described as a raised coral island with a maximum elevation of 59 feet.

Reports from Ulithi indicated that the typhoon knocked down many trees including large fruit trees. Sea level inundation also destroyed crops and deposited salt into the soil. It will take time to desalinate the soil, approximately a year before the crops can be replanted. Many houses were damaged on Ulithi. Despite the high winds, there were no deaths or serious injuries on Ulithi Atoll.

Wider weather episode

Between the 26th and 31st of March, Typhoon Maysak moved across Chuuk and Yap

States in Micronesia. It killed four people in Chuuk Lagoon, and flattened much of Ulithi Atoll in Yap State.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 579262. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.