Authorities in Bangladesh and Myanmar are preparing to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people, warning them to stay away from coastal areas as a severe cyclone churned in the Bay of Bengal.
Cyclone Mocha is expected to hit land on Sunday with wind speeds of up to 160kmph and gusts up to 175kmph between Cox’s Bazar and Kyaukpyu in Myanmar, India’s Meteorological Department said.
Bangladesh, a delta nation with more than 160m people, is prone to natural disasters such as floods and cyclones.
Myanmar and Bangladesh cyclone warning
The evacuation of nearly 500,000 people is expected to start Saturday with 576 cyclone shelters ready to provide refuge to those who are moved from their homes along the coast, said Bangladesh government administrator Muhammad Shaheen Imran.
The International Rescue Committee said in a statement the cyclone posed a threat to Rohingya refugees who fled from neighbouring Myanmar and are living in camps in Cox’s Bazar.
A World Meteorological Organization (WMO) spokesperson said Cyclone Mocha intensified very quickly and warned of “big humanitarian impacts” when it makes landfall this weekend.
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