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Cyclone Amphan makes landfall in India and Bangladesh as millions evacuated Cyclone Amphan makes landfall in India and Bangladesh as millions evacuated
(about 3 hours later)
NEW DELHI — One of the most powerful storms in decades slammed into low-lying coastal areas of India and Bangladesh, bringing winds as high as 120 miles an hour and surging waters of up to 16 feet. NEW DELHI — One of the most powerful storms in decades slammed into low-lying coastal areas of India and Bangladesh on Wednesday, bringing winds as high as 115 miles per hour and surging waters of up to 16 feet.
Cyclone Amphan had weakened as it approached land but remains an extremely potent storm with the capacity to inflict enormous damage. Cyclone Amphan — previously classified as a “super cyclone” — weakened as it approached land, but it remains an extremely potent storm with the capacity to inflict enormous damage.
#WATCH Very strong winds at Odisha's Kendrapara, as cyclone 'AMPHAN' is expected to make landfall near Sunderbans in West Bengal today evening. pic.twitter.com/AHD2Wuo0ky#WATCH Very strong winds at Odisha's Kendrapara, as cyclone 'AMPHAN' is expected to make landfall near Sunderbans in West Bengal today evening. pic.twitter.com/AHD2Wuo0ky
 More than 2 million people have already evacuated their homes, according to authorities in the two countries, moving to emergency shelters even as coronavirus infections rise.  Nearly 3 million people have evacuated their homes, according to authorities in the two countries, moving to emergency shelters even as coronavirus infections rise.
The outer wall of the cyclone reached land in the mid-afternoon local time, tearing into the delta at the top of the Bay of Bengal where India and Bangladesh meet. The region has witnessed some of the world’s deadliest storms, including a cyclone in 1999 that killed 10,000 people in India. The outer wall of the cyclone reached land in the midafternoon local time, tearing into the delta at the top of the Bay of Bengal where India and Bangladesh meet. The region has witnessed some of the world’s deadliest storms, including a cyclone in 1999 that killed 10,000 people in India.
Cyclone #Amphan: Kendrapara district today where heavy winds & sea water inundation witnessed in few areas along the coast. @Kalingatv reporters are bringing updates from all coastal districts of the State @dmkendrapara pic.twitter.com/acKXvNet0iCyclone #Amphan: Kendrapara district today where heavy winds & sea water inundation witnessed in few areas along the coast. @Kalingatv reporters are bringing updates from all coastal districts of the State @dmkendrapara pic.twitter.com/acKXvNet0i
Both India and Bangladesh have invested in a system of emergency shelters that has allowed them to weather several major cyclones in recent years with comparatively fewer deaths than in the past. Cyclone Amphan will mark a major test for the two countries. Cyclones — the tropical equivalent of hurricanes — are becoming increasingly common in the waters off India’s eastern coast, a phenomenon that some experts say could be linked to rising ocean temperatures. In each of the last two years, there was an “above normal” number of cyclones, the Indian government said.
Of particular worry is the cyclone’s devastating storm surge, with waters expected to rise as much as 16 feet higher than normal tides, causing potentially deadly flooding. Indian authorities said they expected extensive damage to dwellings with thatched roofs, electricity poles and communications infrastructure. They also cited the danger from flying objects in the high winds. Both India and Bangladesh have invested in a system of emergency shelters that has allowed them to weather several major cyclones in recent years with comparatively fewer deaths than in the past. Cyclone Amphan marks a crucial test for the two countries.
Of particular worry is the cyclone’s devastating storm surge. Waters are expected to rise as much as 16 feet higher than normal tides, causing potentially deadly flooding and destruction up to 10 miles from the coast. Indian authorities said they expect extensive damage to dwellings with thatched roofs and to electricity poles and communications infrastructure. They also cited the danger from flying objects in the high winds.
Early morning visuals from #Bhadrak district in #Odisha#CyclonicStormAMPHAN #CycloneAmphan #CycloneAmphanUpdate #Cyclone #CycloneAlert #CycloneUpdate #Amphan #AmphanCyclone #AmphanUpdate #Amphan_Alert pic.twitter.com/nmMlnTgegoEarly morning visuals from #Bhadrak district in #Odisha#CyclonicStormAMPHAN #CycloneAmphan #CycloneAmphanUpdate #Cyclone #CycloneAlert #CycloneUpdate #Amphan #AmphanCyclone #AmphanUpdate #Amphan_Alert pic.twitter.com/nmMlnTgego
Images from the coast of the Indian states of Odisha and West Bengal on Tuesday showed torrential rain, lashing winds and uprooted trees as the storm neared land. Kolkata, one of India’s largest cities whose metropolitan area is home to nearly 15 million people, is in the storm’s path. Officials there urged everyone to stay at home. One volunteer helping to evacuate people in Bangladesh is missing and feared dead after the boat that he was in sank, said Ahmadul Kabir, a disaster management official. In the eastern Indian state of Odisha, authorities were investigating a report that an infant died when a mud wall collapsed due to heavy rain, said Pradeep Jena, a senior government official overseeing the relief effort.
Images from the coast of Odisha and the Indian state of West Bengal on Tuesday showed torrential rain, lashing winds and uprooted trees as the storm neared land. Kolkata, one of India’s largest cities whose metropolitan area is home to nearly 15 million people, is in the storm’s path. It is expected to receive heavy rains, with winds up to 75 mph. Officials there have urged residents to stay home.
#Amphan : Rough Sea Conditions at #Digha in East Midnapore.@NDRFHQ personnel making announcements to warn coastal residents. pic.twitter.com/XFAJGXKSlj#Amphan : Rough Sea Conditions at #Digha in East Midnapore.@NDRFHQ personnel making announcements to warn coastal residents. pic.twitter.com/XFAJGXKSlj
Azad Majumder in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Tazeen Qureshy in Bhubaneswar, India, contributed to this report.
India and Bangladesh prepare for Cyclone Amphan as pandemic ragesIndia and Bangladesh prepare for Cyclone Amphan as pandemic rages
Cyclone Amphan poses extreme storm surge danger for eastern India, BangladeshCyclone Amphan poses extreme storm surge danger for eastern India, Bangladesh
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