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India's Cyclone Phailin leaves trail of destruction | India's Cyclone Phailin leaves trail of destruction |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Indian disaster teams have begun a relief operation after Cyclone Phailin crashed into eastern areas, forcing up to one million people to flee. | Indian disaster teams have begun a relief operation after Cyclone Phailin crashed into eastern areas, forcing up to one million people to flee. |
Officials are assessing the damage and providing food to hundreds of thousands who spent the night in shelters. | Officials are assessing the damage and providing food to hundreds of thousands who spent the night in shelters. |
The cyclone wrecked many coastal homes, uprooted trees and blocked roads in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa states. | The cyclone wrecked many coastal homes, uprooted trees and blocked roads in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa states. |
A disaster management authority official said 14 people had died, 13 of them in Orissa. | A disaster management authority official said 14 people had died, 13 of them in Orissa. |
"We have been able to [keep] the death toll to a bare minimum," Marri Shashidhar Reddy told reporters in Delhi. | "We have been able to [keep] the death toll to a bare minimum," Marri Shashidhar Reddy told reporters in Delhi. |
In 1999 a cyclone killed more than 10,000 people in Orissa. | In 1999 a cyclone killed more than 10,000 people in Orissa. |
But the authorities said they were better prepared this time. | But the authorities said they were better prepared this time. |
The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Berhampur, Orissa, says they made a massive effort to get the message out to people, many of whom were reluctant to leave their homes. | The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Berhampur, Orissa, says they made a massive effort to get the message out to people, many of whom were reluctant to leave their homes. |
The massive storm made landfall on Saturday, packing winds of about 200km/h (125mph). | The massive storm made landfall on Saturday, packing winds of about 200km/h (125mph). |
It was weakening on Sunday as it made its way north-west. | It was weakening on Sunday as it made its way north-west. |
In Orissa's state capital, Bhubaneswar, crews were using axes and rope to clear fallen trees from roads. | In Orissa's state capital, Bhubaneswar, crews were using axes and rope to clear fallen trees from roads. |
"We've just started to assess the damage and coastal areas will have fared worse," said crew leader Upendra Malik. | "We've just started to assess the damage and coastal areas will have fared worse," said crew leader Upendra Malik. |
The storm tore down power and communication lines and knocked out road and rail links, making an assessment difficult. | The storm tore down power and communication lines and knocked out road and rail links, making an assessment difficult. |
An estimated 5,000 sq km of mostly paddy crops have been destroyed, causing a loss of some $320m (£220m). | An estimated 5,000 sq km of mostly paddy crops have been destroyed, causing a loss of some $320m (£220m). |
The coast guard said it had rescued 18 fishermen who were stranded at sea, as well as 18 crew from a cargo ship carrying iron ore that reportedly sank during the storm. | The coast guard said it had rescued 18 fishermen who were stranded at sea, as well as 18 crew from a cargo ship carrying iron ore that reportedly sank during the storm. |
Several of the dead were killed by falling trees, but officials were confident that a massive loss of life had been avoided. | Several of the dead were killed by falling trees, but officials were confident that a massive loss of life had been avoided. |
"We were preparing for a super cyclone, but Phailin did not turn into a super cyclone," disaster official Tripti Parule told the AFP news agency. | "We were preparing for a super cyclone, but Phailin did not turn into a super cyclone," disaster official Tripti Parule told the AFP news agency. |
He said the evacuation was the biggest in India's history for such an event. | He said the evacuation was the biggest in India's history for such an event. |
The Times of India reported that a storm surge more than 3m (9ft) high had flooded areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts of Orissa and the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. | The Times of India reported that a storm surge more than 3m (9ft) high had flooded areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts of Orissa and the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. |
India's National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said 1,200 personnel had been deployed to Orissa and 500 to Andhra Pradesh. | |
"The teams have medical first responders [for first aid] and heavy cutting equipment. In the case of cyclones there is a likelihood of collapsed buildings." | "The teams have medical first responders [for first aid] and heavy cutting equipment. In the case of cyclones there is a likelihood of collapsed buildings." |
Up to 25cm of rain is predicted for Orissa and the north coast of Andhra Pradesh throughout Sunday and Monday, forecasters said. | Up to 25cm of rain is predicted for Orissa and the north coast of Andhra Pradesh throughout Sunday and Monday, forecasters said. |
In the coastal town of Gopalpur, one of the worst-affected areas, hundreds of terrified residents spent the night huddled in shelters, schools and public buildings. | In the coastal town of Gopalpur, one of the worst-affected areas, hundreds of terrified residents spent the night huddled in shelters, schools and public buildings. |
Witnesses reported seeing shards of glass and asbestos sheets flying through the air as the cyclone struck. | Witnesses reported seeing shards of glass and asbestos sheets flying through the air as the cyclone struck. |
Shop signs and other debris were being pitched high in the air by storm gusts and elaborate decorations for a major Hindu festival were strewn over the main road. | Shop signs and other debris were being pitched high in the air by storm gusts and elaborate decorations for a major Hindu festival were strewn over the main road. |
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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