Half of Guam Was Dark Monday Morning, and Flights Are Still Canceled

Super Typhoon Champi passed about 10 miles south of Guam early Sunday, October 18, with its closest approach around 4:26 a.m. local time, according to Guam Homeland Security and the Office of Civil Defense. Southern Guam took the heaviest winds and rain. The island remained at Condition of Readiness 1, its highest preparedness level, and the White House approved a federal emergency declaration allowing FEMA to coordinate resources. By Monday morning about 50 percent of the island had electricity, down from roughly 75 percent shortly after the storm’s closest approach.

Air travel has been badly disrupted at A.B. Won Pat International Airport. United cancelled flights to Honolulu, Tokyo Narita, Osaka Kansai and several regional Pacific destinations, and Korean Air, Philippine Airlines, Jin Air, Air Seoul and Air Busan cancelled selected services. Monday cancellations included United flights UA200, UA151 and UA196 and Philippine Airlines’ PR111. Some later Monday departures were still listed as operating, but those listings do not guarantee a flight, so passengers should check each flight number directly with their airline.

For visitors already on the island, the picture is uneven. Guam Memorial Hospital, Naval Base Guam and Andersen Air Force Base kept power, and the electrical feeders serving Tumon’s hotel row stayed online, although that does not confirm that every property has water, air conditioning or working elevators. Several hotel operators prepared to host stranded guests for five to ten days, and one group offered a distressed-passenger rate. No verified list of hotels accepting new arrivals was available.

Officials ask visitors to stay indoors and away from windows until the all-clear, avoid shorelines and the sea, and hold off on sightseeing or excursions until authorities clear them. Damage assessments are incomplete and no timetable for normal tourism operations has been announced. The Guam Visitors Bureau runs a 24-hour multilingual concierge line at +1 671 588-3030, and travelers with cancelled flights should contact their airline and accommodation before making other arrangements.

Sources: eTurboNews, Russian Tourism News