Typhoon Mawar puts Guam island on alert

Typhoon Mawar arrived Wednesday in the territory of Guam, where residents are suffering from devastating winds and torrential rains in one of the worst storms in recent memory on the Pacific island.

The tropical cyclone became a dangerous Category 4 storm, becoming the strongest cyclone to hit the island in 21 years. Winds reached 225 km (139 miles) per hour, according to the specialized tracking tool Windy.

Northern Guam, which is taking the brunt of the winds, will remain on alert throughout Wednesday. The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for the entire island as experts expected up to 64 centimeters (25 inches) of rain in addition to a storm surge of between 1.2 and 2 meters (4 to 6 feet).

The typhoon could gain strength and reach category 5, the strongest on the scale. Guam has not suffered a direct hit from a Category 5 storm since 1962. The island has a population of over 150,000 and is home to three military bases.