Cyclone Mocha, an approaching storm over the Bay of Bengal, is navigating its way toward South Asia, forcing local authorities in Bangladesh and Myanmar to issue evacuation orders for hundreds of thousands of people.
The authorities are yet to evacuate residents but warmed the public to stay away from coastal areas due to potential storm surge or coastal flooding from strong winds.
Cyclone Mocha reportedly formed over southeastern Bay of Bengal which is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm on Friday, May 12, according to India's meteorological authorities. With this, the evacuation is expected to start on Saturday, May 13, since the expected landfall of the storm in the region is on Sunday, May 14.
In recent years, countries in South Asia have experienced powerful cyclones, resulting in flooding due to heavy rain and widespread damaging winds. The most affected sites during these natural disasters are coastal areas, which are vulnerable to coastal erosion. In 2019, dozens of people died when a cyclone struck India and Bangladesh during the summer of May that year.
Cyclone Mocha
An aerial view shows volunteers and residents working to repair a damaged dam following the landfall of cyclone Amphan in Burigoalini on May 21, 2020. - At least 84 people died as the fiercest cyclone to hit parts of Bangladesh and eastern India this century sent trees flying and flattened houses, with millions crammed into shelters despite the risk of coronavirus.
India's Meteorological Department predicated Cyclone Mocha is expected to strike coastal districts, including Bhola, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, and Noakhali in Bangladesh this coming Sunday, as cited by Phys.org. The weather agency said Mocha was located over 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) southwest of Cox's Bazar as of Friday local time.
In addition to the said measures, fishermen and ships were warned not to sail into the southeast Bay of Bengal and northern Andaman Sea. Furthermore, the department was anticipating 'heavy to very heavy rainfall' in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as well as northeast India.
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Evacuation Orders
Almost 500,000 people are expected to be evacuated by the start of Saturday with 576 cyclone shelters already in place for those who will be seeking refuge from their homes along coastal areas, according to Muhammad Shaheen Imran, Bangladesh's government administrator.
Also on Friday, United Nations agencies are reportedly bracing for potential disaster as Cyclone Mocha strengthens over the Bay of Bengal. With this, the UN has provided emergency materials, including 230 tons of dry food and 24.5 tons of fortified biscuits, to both Bangladesh and Myanmar, according to UN News.
South Asia Cyclones
Like other regions in the world, South Asia is also prone to cyclones, especially between May and October. In 2019, the "rare summer cyclone" that hit the two South Asian countries killed at least 15 people in Bangladesh and 34 people in India, the National Public Radio reported.
In 2007, Cyclone Sidr, which also traversed the Bay of Bengal, also brought mayhem across Bangladesh. The Government of Bangladesh reported over 8 million people were affected by Sidr, while more than 3,363 people died, 55,282 injured, and 871 others missing, as cited by the Asian Disaster Reduction Center.
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