Severe cyclone approaching prompts Bangladesh to evacuate hundreds of thousands | Global News

Bangladesh and India brace for severe cyclone as nearly 800,000 people evacuated

NEW DELHI (AP) — As a severe cyclone formed over the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh and neighbouring India have been on high alert, with nearly 800,000 people evacuated from vulnerable areas on Sunday.

The storm is expected to cross Bangladesh and India’s West Bengal coasts around midnight Sunday, with maximum wind speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour (75 mph) and gusts up to 135 kph (85 mph) hitting specific regions.

In preparation for the cyclone, Bangladesh’s junior minister for disaster management and relief, Mohibur Rahman, deployed volunteers to evacuate people to 4,000 cyclone shelters across the coastal region. The government also closed all schools in the affected areas until further notice.

India’s Kolkata airport will be closed for 21 hours from midnight Sunday, while Bangladesh shut down the airport in Chattogram and cancelled all domestic flights to and from Cox’s Bazar. Additionally, loading and unloading activities in Chittagong’s main seaport have been suspended, with ships being moved to the deep sea as a precaution.

This cyclone marks the first of the season in the Bay of Bengal, ahead of the monsoon season from June to September. Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in coastal districts of West Bengal, with a storm surge of about 1 meter (3.1 feet) predicted to flood low-lying areas in both countries.

With changing climate patterns leading to more intense cyclones, preparations for natural disasters have become increasingly urgent in the region. Stay tuned for updates on this developing situation.