More than half of Rota's structures damaged as recovery begins after Bavi

More than half of the structures on Rota, one of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, sustained some form of damage after Super Typhoon Bavi tore across the island, according to mayor Aubry Hocog.

Officials are racing to restore water services while warning that electricity may not return for months.

Following an initial drive around the island on 7 July, Hocog said the devastation extended beyond homes to government buildings and public facilities.

"I would even say more than like 50 percent of our island has undergone damages and it could be more."

She said many residents living in concrete homes still lost tin-roofed kitchens, awnings, and extensions, while numerous homes with tin roofs were either heavily damaged or destroyed.

"Many of them have undergone major damages or have their homes totally destroyed."

Hocog said even temporary roofs installed under the S.T.R.O.N.G. (Short-Term Resilience and Operational Needs Group Tent and Roofing Program) after Super Typhoon Sinlaku failed to withstand Bavi.

"Even just the recent roofs that were part of the S.T.R.O.N.G. Roof Program that was constructed after Super Typhoon Sinlaku, many if not all were damaged or destroyed."

Despite the widespread destruction, she said the island was fortunate to avoid fatalities.

"Really overall there was no deaths confirmed."

Hocog said preliminary reports indicated two people suffered non-fatal injuries, although she was still awaiting final confirmation from the Rota Health Center.

Restoring water remains the island's top priority.

Residents have been lining up at the Gila-Longa Water Reservoir, where Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC) crews are rationing water to 25 gallons per household while officials work to repair damaged infrastructure near the island's chlorine station.

"Absolutely the water," she said.

Hocog said officials were working with CNMI governor David Apatang's administration to bring CUC personnel and supplies from Saipan to restore piped water as quickly as possible.

Power restoration, however, is expected to take much longer after utility poles and power lines were extensively damaged across the island.

"It's going to take a while, estimation about maybe two to three months."

She said Guam leaders Lou Leon Guerrero and Josh Tenorio had also offered assistance once Guam completes its own recovery work.

With forecasters warning that El Niño conditions could bring another active typhoon season, Hocog said preparation remains the territory's best defence.

"Nobody would want this. All we can do is be prepared as best we can be."

She said recent storms, including Mawar, Sinlaku, and now Bavi, had exposed weaknesses that governments must continue addressing.

"Mother Nature, there's no way that we can schedule anything with them. All we can do is be as prepared on our end."

Hocog said stronger collaboration with the CNMI government, federal agencies, and regional partners would be essential to making Rota more resilient before the next storm.

In a message to residents, she urged unity and patience as recovery begins.

"We can rebuild, we can recover from this. It may take some time, but we can do it, especially coming together to help one another."

In a separate written statement, Hocog pledged that the island's leadership would continue working together through the recovery.

"To our people of Rota, your Rota leadership will work together to help us overcome this disaster. We will rebuild and recover… day by day, little by little, we will move forward."

She said the outpouring of support from across the Marianas and the United States would help the island recover stronger.