The United States Navy says mother nature is as much a culprit in the destruction of the Northern Marianas island of Farallon de Medinilla as its live-fire training is.
In a report included in the latest Marianas Islands Training and Testing study area, the Navy says based on direct observations, damage on the coast of the island can be attributed to typhoons and storm surges.
The island has also been used by the Navy for military and live bombing exercises for years.
However, the Navy says damage to the island attributed to military training recovers within two to three years, the same rate as that caused by natural phenomena.
Farallon de Medinilla, CNMI Photo: supplied