Shelter-In-Place Remains For Northern Mariana Islands Residents As Sinlaku Departs

Friday, 17 April 2026, 1:59 pm
Article: RNZ

Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor

Communities in the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) remain locked down as the slow-moving typhoon Sinlaku continues to impact the US territory.

The storm, which is moving away to the northwest, has reintensified temporarily, but is forecast to eventually weaken as it continues tracking northward after lashing the CNMI from late Tuesday through Wednesday.

Commonwealth Healthcare Coorporation's Lee Tenorio on Saipan told RNZ Pacific on Thursday that power is out across the island.

He said the main hospital facility is running on back up generators.

"We have our emergency departments on our three main islands - Saipan, Tinian and Rota - operational since the start of the storm. We have [not] closed it for 24 hours, seven days a week. Services [at the hospital] have not been interrupted.

"We currently have power [and] are focused on maintaining that power through our generators as the main power on the island is still out."

"Another [thing] we are doing is ensuring that we have proper water supply, but also ensuring that we continue to focus on patient care.

He said the hospital is looking at restoring certain services, such as hemodialysis, especially for those who are in need.

He said officials are currently conducting assessments.

"We're also working on opening up our outpatient services again to service the community.

"However, those are still under assessments, and we are working towards having them operational, hopefully before the end of the day today (Thursday)."

CNMI remains under the highest alert level and Sinlaku has caused "a lot of damages around the island", Tenorio said.

He is urging the public to continue to take shelter until the all clear is given.

"We advise the public to consider remaining up to date with our governor's office and ensuring that we follow their directives as well," he said, noting that a shelter-in-place directive is still in place.

"We ask our community to abide by that as much as possible, and we're doing our best to restore our services. It's really important that we all try to stay safe and act responsibly."

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