After Typhoon Yutu, Saipan 'is cut in half'

3:32 pm on 16 November 2018

Much of the island of Saipan in the Northern Marianas remains without power and water, as recovery efforts continue in the wake of Typhoon Yutu.

Typhoon Yutu damage

Photo: Twitter/ @_ryreyes

The island's international airport resumed daytime flights on Thursday, more than 20 days after being hit by the super storm.

Regular nighttime flights should start on Tuesday.

Public schools are scheduled to re-open on December 3, although this will happen a week earlier in the nearby island of Tinian.

RNZ Pacific's correspondent in the Northern Marianas, Mark Rabago, said Saipan is still in "full recovery mode".

"In our parts of the country already have power, but the South side of the island... basically, the island is cut in half right now. Those who have power and those who have not. So, still not back to normal, if you can say that."

There are now more than 1,000 military and federal personnel on the ground removing debris and fixing schools, he said.

People in evacuation centres in the Northern part of the island had been moved to centres in the South, where there was power and running water.

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