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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 1 hour later)
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. NEW DELHI — Millions of people were plunged into darkness after one of the most powerful storms in decades slammed into low-lying areas of India and Bangladesh, bringing lashing winds of up to 115 miles an hour and surging waters as high as 16 feet.
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. Cyclone Amphan snapped power lines, blew roofs off buildings and uprooted countless trees after making landfall on Wednesday afternoon. The storm — which had been classified as a "super cyclone" — weakened as it approached land but remains an extremely potent storm with the capacity to inflict enormous damage.
 Nearly 3 million people have 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 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. In the eastern Indian state of Odisha, more than 3 million people were without electricity, according to an update from a disaster relief official. There were also reports of power outages in parts of Kolkata, one of India’s largest cities, which is directly in the path of the storm.
Kolkata, whose metropolitan area is home to nearly 15 million people, experienced torrential rain driven by winds of up to 70 miles per hour. Officials there had urged residents to stay at home.
The cyclone tore 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.
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.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.
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.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.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
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. 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 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. Two people were reported dead in the Indian state of West Bengal, according to reports Wednesday evening by local media.
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. Images from the coast of Odisha and West Bengal on Wednesday showed driving rain, howling winds and toppled trees as the storm neared land.
Azad Majumder in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Tazeen Qureshy in Bhubaneswar, India, contributed to this report.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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