Guam Reels From Typhoon’s Punch
AGANA, Guam — A 12-hour shredding by Typhoon Paka left residents of this tropical island picking up the pieces today after fierce winds leveled homes, knocked out electricity and caused an estimated $200 million in damage.
No deaths were reported. At least 20 people sustained minor injuries, mostly lacerations from flying glass and other debris.
Sustained winds reached 150 mph, and instruments at Anderson Air Force Base recorded a gust of 236 mph, said Tim Craig of the National Weather Service in Honolulu. If confirmed, that speed would topple the record on the Earth’s surface of 231 mph, set 63 years ago atop New Hampshire’s stormy Mt. Washington.
President Clinton declared the U.S. territory a federal disaster area, opening the way for aid, including low-interest loans.
Volunteers joined government workers and National Guard troops in clearing downed trees, utility poles, wires and other debris from the main roadways while utility workers began a marathon effort to restore the island’s electrical network.
It could be weeks before full power is restored because of heavy damage to the island’s four main power plants, officials said.
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