Earth's most powerful storm of the year roars across Pacific

Food, water, cots, generators, and other federal emergency supplies were being rushed Tuesday from Hawaii and Guam to help Saipan after the Earth's most powerful storm of 2015 — Super Typhoon Soudelor — blasted through the tiny U.S. island in the Western Pacific.

The storm continued its violent march through the Pacific Ocean with sustained winds of more than 160 mph and gusts approaching 200 mph — the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center said Tuesday. The typhoon was taking aim at Taiwan, China and some of Japan's southern islands, though it's expected to weaken to a Category 3 or 4 storm by then, the center said.

"There is growing concern that Taiwan and the southern Ryukyu Islands will have to contend with Soudelor as early as Thursday night or Friday with impacts lasting into early next week across eastern China," said AccuWeather meteorologist Eric Leister.

The storm slammed into Saipan, one of the Northern Mariana Islands, a 48,000-population U.S. commonwealth, Sunday and Monday. It flooded the island’s power plant, ripped off roofs and toppled power poles, the Pacific Daily News in Guam reported. Hundreds of Saipan residents are in shelters. Some roads remain impassable, and power and water service are out.

No fatalities were reported, but least 10 people were treated at the government hospital for injuries, including wounds and deep cuts, from falling or flying debris. Acting Gov. Ralph D.L.G. Torres declared "a state of disaster and significant emergency" there on Monday.

"Most power and phone lines are down with no power or landline service to most of the island," Philip Dauterman told the Pacific Daily News. He estimated that it could take months for power to be restored across the island.

Soudelor (SOW-de-lore) is the strongest storm anywhere on the planet so far this year. Typhoons are the Western Pacific's version of hurricanes.

Soudelor is a Pohnpeian word for a legendary chief or ruler, according to the National Weather Service. Pohnpeian is a language spoken on the island of Pohnpei in the Caroline Islands.