24 Aug 2004

Extreme weather continues in Northern Marianas after Typhoon Chaba

9:00 pm on 24 August 2004

The Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas is still suffering severe weather - the after effects of Typhoon Chaba.

The National weather service today issued flash flood warnings for Saipan, Tinian and Rota.

A spokesperson for the Emergency Management Office, Jenn Castro, says people living near Lake Susupe in Saipan, are most at risk.

Ms Castro says the constant rain has seen more people being evacuated into emergency shelters, meaning around a thousand are now homeless.

"We have a lot of people in shelters now. Almost all of our public schools have been used as shelters, and almost all of them are full now of people whose houses have been flooded or whose roofs have been blown off."

Jenn Castro says some roads remain closed, and some areas are still without electricity or water.

The Northern Marianas' Government is waiting for the US Federal Government to declare a state of emergency.