22 Nov 2018

92 families still in shelters after Northern Marianas typhoon

11:53 am on 22 November 2018

Nearly a month after Super Typhoon Yutu devastated the Northern Marianas hundreds of people still have no homes, with an estimated 383 living in shelters on the northern part of Saipan.

A school building is damaged after Super Typhoon Yutu

A school building is damaged after Super Typhoon Yutu Photo: RNZ Pacific / Mark Rabago

The number represents 92 families. The date for closing the evacuation centers is unclear because the evacuees still have no viable housing.

RNZ Pacific's correspondent said there was no update on the number of evacuees remaining on Tinian.

Meanwhile, the Red Cross has given financial aid and relief supplies to over 600 households on Tinian.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, the CNMI government, and the U.S. military have erected hundreds of tents on Saipan.

Five of Saipan's nine power feeders are now at least partially on line, while water production is up to 70 percent.

The territory's utility says there are 797 downed or damaged power poles, 105 damaged transformers, and more than 150,000 metres of damaged wires due to Yutu.

Damage by Yutu

Damage by Yutu Photo: Mark Rabago

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