Hundreds of thousands displaced as Cyclone Mora causes destruction across Myanmar, Bangladesh
More than 500,000 people have been displaced by the former Cyclone Mora which brought heavy rain and damaging winds to western Myanmar and Bangladesh on Monday and Tuesday.
At least six people have been killed by the cyclone in Bangladesh, according to the BBC.
India Today reported that six fishing boats were still missing off the coast of Bangladesh. The boats reportedly contained at least 71 people.
Bangladeshis carry their belongings and walk homewards after spending a night at a shelter in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Tuesday, May 30, 2017. A tropical storm lashed southern Bangladesh on Tuesday, killing at least six people and destroying thousands of poorly built homes in some remote islands in the Bay of Bengal, officials said. (AP Photo)
The cyclone toppled trees and destroyed homes along its path as it tracked from just west of Myanmar into eastern Bangladesh.
The storm then moved into northeastern India where the rugged terrain resulted in the dissipation of the cyclone.
Mora produced wind gusts over 70 mph from Cox’s Bazar to Chittagong on Tuesday morning, local time.
Despite weakening as it moved inland, Mora continued to produce heavy rainfall as it tracked into northeastern India.
Widespread rainfall of 75-150 mm (3-6 inches) was reported from Myanmar into Bangladesh and northeastern India with local amounts over 300 mm (12 inches) in the higher terrain.
As some of the more than 500,000 displaced people return home, the full extent of the damage will become more clear.
Despite Mora dissipating, the threat of flooding and mudslides will continue across parts of Bangladesh and northeastern India into this weekend.
Lingering tropical moisture will fuel widespread showers and thunderstorms each day.
Additional rainfall of 50-100 mm (2-4 inches) will be common through Sunday with locally higher amounts.
This rainfall on top of already saturated soil and high river levels will trigger additional flooding and continue the threat for mudslides.
Bangladesh and Myanmar are particularly prone to devastating storm surges due to the highly populated coastal plain which also contains several rivers. This topography along with a high population density has resulted in eight of the top 10 deadliest cyclones in recorded history originating in the Bay of Bengal.
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