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| Cyclone Phailin: Mass evacuations in eastern India | Cyclone Phailin: Mass evacuations in eastern India |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| More than 400,000 people in India have been evacuated as a massive cyclone sweeps through the Bay of Bengal towards the east coast. | More than 400,000 people in India have been evacuated as a massive cyclone sweeps through the Bay of Bengal towards the east coast. |
| Cyclone Phailin, categorised as "very severe" by weather forecasters, is expected to hit Orissa and Andhra Pradesh states on Saturday evening. | Cyclone Phailin, categorised as "very severe" by weather forecasters, is expected to hit Orissa and Andhra Pradesh states on Saturday evening. |
| The Meteorological Department has predicted the storm will bring winds up to 220 km/h (136mph). | The Meteorological Department has predicted the storm will bring winds up to 220 km/h (136mph). |
| A deadly super-cyclone in 1999 killed more than 10,000 people in Orissa. | A deadly super-cyclone in 1999 killed more than 10,000 people in Orissa. |
| But officials say this time they are better prepared, the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi reports. | But officials say this time they are better prepared, the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi reports. |
| However, the US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Hawaii is forecasting even stronger winds, predicting sustained speeds of up to 269 km/h (167 mph). | However, the US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Hawaii is forecasting even stronger winds, predicting sustained speeds of up to 269 km/h (167 mph). |
| Homes at risk | |
| Officials said Cyclone Phailin is expected to make landfall close to the city of Gopalpur (Orissa state), bringing a storm surge of at least 3m (10ft) that was likely to cause "extensive damage" to mud houses on the coast. | Officials said Cyclone Phailin is expected to make landfall close to the city of Gopalpur (Orissa state), bringing a storm surge of at least 3m (10ft) that was likely to cause "extensive damage" to mud houses on the coast. |
| "No-one will be allowed to stay in mud and thatched houses in the coastal areas,'' said Orissa's Disaster Management Minister Surya Narayan Patra. | "No-one will be allowed to stay in mud and thatched houses in the coastal areas,'' said Orissa's Disaster Management Minister Surya Narayan Patra. |
| The army is on standby in the two states for emergency and relief operations. Officials said helicopters and food packages were ready to be dropped in the storm-affected areas. | The army is on standby in the two states for emergency and relief operations. Officials said helicopters and food packages were ready to be dropped in the storm-affected areas. |
| Meanwhile, the US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Centre predicted that Phailin could produce gusts of up to 315 km/h, while the London-based Tropical Storm Risk classified Phailin as a Category Five storm - the most powerful. | Meanwhile, the US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Centre predicted that Phailin could produce gusts of up to 315 km/h, while the London-based Tropical Storm Risk classified Phailin as a Category Five storm - the most powerful. |
| The Times of India newspaper warned that local meteorologists may be underestimating the severity of the storm. | The Times of India newspaper warned that local meteorologists may be underestimating the severity of the storm. |
| Meteorologists also say that the storm is not only intense but covers a wide area. | Meteorologists also say that the storm is not only intense but covers a wide area. |
| Fishermen have been asked not to venture out to sea. | Fishermen have been asked not to venture out to sea. |
| Rain and winds are already being felt in Orissa, where authorities said they were setting up shelters for people who would need to be evacuated. | Rain and winds are already being felt in Orissa, where authorities said they were setting up shelters for people who would need to be evacuated. |
| "We are fighting against nature. We are better prepared this time, we learnt a lot from 1999," said Surya Narayan Patra. | "We are fighting against nature. We are better prepared this time, we learnt a lot from 1999," said Surya Narayan Patra. |
| Reports said that there had been panic buying in the state capital, Bhubaneswar, with shelves being emptied of food. | Reports said that there had been panic buying in the state capital, Bhubaneswar, with shelves being emptied of food. |
| "I'm feeling scared and tense. My son is expected to arrive Sunday. Now I think he won't make it," housewife Manjushree Das told the Agence France-Presse news agency. | "I'm feeling scared and tense. My son is expected to arrive Sunday. Now I think he won't make it," housewife Manjushree Das told the Agence France-Presse news agency. |
| India's eastern coast and Bangladesh are routinely hit by cyclonic storms between April and November which cause deaths and widespread damage to property. | India's eastern coast and Bangladesh are routinely hit by cyclonic storms between April and November which cause deaths and widespread damage to property. |
| In December 2011, Cyclone Thane hit the southern state of Tamil Nadu, killing dozens of people. | In December 2011, Cyclone Thane hit the southern state of Tamil Nadu, killing dozens of people. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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