By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

TYPHOON Kong-Rey 01W approached to within 50 miles east-northeast of Saipan at 7 a.m. yesterday before moving away and sparing the island the damage that would have been caused by its maximum sustained winds that reached 75 mph.
At 10 a.m., the Emergency Management Office declared an all clear condition for Saipan and Tinian, and families that stayed overnight at government-designated shelters made their way back home.
As of 2:15 p.m., the typhoon was moving toward the Northern Islands with Gov. Benigno R. Fitial declaring typhoon condition 1 for Alamagan, Agrihan and Pagan.
No property damage was reported as of yesterday morning, according to EMO Director Greg A. Deleon Guerrero, who added that scattered showers are expected today on Saipan and Tinian.
Yesterday’s bulletin also announced that all government employees were to report back to work at 12:30 p.m.
The employees were granted a half-day of administrative leave, except for personnel at agencies which have response activity coordinators — the Department of Public Safety, the Public School System, the Department of Public Works, the mayors of Saipan, Tinian and Rota, the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, Coastal Resource Management, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and the Department of Labor.
Deleon Guerrero said the response activity coordinators, which include those of the U.S. Coast Guard and the shelter managers, “did a very good job.”
Kong-Rey, a Cambodian term meaning “legendary lady,” was projected to directly hit Rota on Monday before it turned north toward Saipan.
At around 7 a.m. yesterday, the typhoon was located 50 miles east-northeast of Saipan.
That was its closest point of approach, Deleon Guerrero said.
The typhoon began moving away from Saipan at 9 a.m. when it was located 70 miles north of the island with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.