India and Bangladesh are facing the most powerful storm in history: millions are evacuating

India and Bangladesh are preparing for the strongest storm ever recorded in the Bay of Bengal, writes CNN. The element threatens millions of people and will collapse ashore in less than 36 hours, bringing heavy rains with it.

Photo: Shutterstock

The Amfan supercyclone was the strongest storm ever recorded in the Bay of Bengal on the evening of Monday, May 18, after the wind speed increased to 270 kilometers per hour, according to the United States typhoon warning center.

Since then, Amphan has weakened a little, but the storm is still the equivalent of a category 3 Atlantic hurricane with wind speeds of up to 185 km / h.

The US Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) said that up to 33,6 million people in India could be exposed to storms, and 5,3 million people could be affected in Bangladesh. The PDC assessment is based on data from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

#SuperCycloneAmphan to cross West Bengal - Bangladesh coasts between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) close to Sundarbans during the afternoon to evening of 20th May 2020 with wind speed of 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph. PIB_India @ndmaindia @NDRFHQ pic.twitter.com/3HYaR06pCL

- PIB in Odisha #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIBBhubaneswar) May 19, 2020

The Bay of Bengal in the north-eastern part of the Indian Ocean is located between India in the west and north-west, Bangladesh in the north and Myanmar in the east.

Amphan is only the second super cyclone to hit the Bay of Bengal since any records of weather events began. During the last super cyclone in 1999, nearly 15 villages were damaged and nearly 000 people died.

The cyclone should land on the border of India and Bangladesh on Wednesday evening, May 20, near the Indian city of Calcutta, where more than 14 million people live.

The #SuperCycloneAmphan over #WestcentralBayofBengal moved nearly northwards with a speed of 18kmph during the past 06 hours and lies at about 360km away from Paradip,#odisha.

Turbulent sea near #Gopalpur ?PIB_India @MIB_India @NDRFHQ @PIBHomeAffairs @ndmaindia @SRC_Odisha pic.twitter.com/K3JBLUkTo8

- PIB in Odisha #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIBBhubaneswar) May 19, 2020

In India, residents are massively evacuated

Indian officials said up to 300 people in coastal areas of West Bengal and Odisha are in immediate danger from the storm. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the country, evacuation is carried out in the region.

Satya Narayan Pradhan, director general of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), said West Bengal usually has shelters from cyclones for 500, but because of the rules of social distance during the coronavirus epidemic, the number was reduced to 000 people.

On the subject: The effects of global warming: a historic temperature record set in Antarctica

According to him, several buses were organized, but many will go to emergency shelters on foot.

Pradhan added that areas endangered by the cyclone are underdeveloped, many villagers live in temporary houses with thatched or tin roofs.

“All of this will be in the line of fire,” he said.

#AmphanUpdates@NDRFHQ Teams evacuating people and domestic animals to safe cyclone shelters in #kendrapara district, #odisha.PIB_India @MIB_India @PIBHomeAffairs @ndmaindia @ satyaprad1 @nityanandraibjp @dmkendrapara @AnubhavMohanty_ @SRC_Odisha @gapg_dept@RDodisha pic.twitter.com/IE3m90PTRz

- PIB in Odisha #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIBBhubaneswar) May 19, 2020

In Bangladesh, Junior Disaster Management Minister Enamur Rahman said authorities plan to transport about 2 million people from coastal areas to more than 12 cyclone shelters.

According to Selim Hossein, a senior Bangladeshi Ministry of Disaster Management information representative, 9,1 million people can be placed in shelters from cyclones while maintaining a social distance.

India's NDRF CEO Pradhan previously said that 25 NDRF teams have been deployed in the region, 12 more are on standby, and 24 other teams are also on standby in various parts of India.

Please pray for Bengal, Orissa. From my window.#Amphan #AmphanCyclone #CyclonicStorm #Cyclone#Kolkata#India pic.twitter.com/wsM65yqMeW

- Somdeb Chakraborty (@hello_somdeb) May 19, 2020

The Meteorological Department of India warned fishermen to stay on shore and not go to sea for the next 24 hours.

“I pray for everyone’s safety and assure all possible support from the central government,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

Cyclone Amphan is about to hit India and Bangladesh. The dark beauty of these clouds is both terrifying and gorgeous. Wind speed will rage as high as 180 kmmph (112 mph). Be that you can shelter in four walls and a roof, some might not have grateful that luxury after this storm pic.twitter.com/3BtKOK7XzX

- Mala Valroy (@MalaChakraborti) May 19, 2020

Storm on the background of the coronavirus pandemic

The storm began at a time when India and Bangladesh were fighting for control of local outbreaks of coronavirus. According to Johns Hopkins University, on May 18, more than 100 confirmed cases of infection were reported in India, the largest spike in the day, amounting to 000 new cases.

The number of people infected in Bangladesh is growing rapidly, on May 17, more than 1300 new cases were registered, which is the largest increase. A total of 23 confirmed cases were recorded in the country.

Resolving the situation with two disasters at the same time will be problematic for the governments of the two countries, especially if they try to maintain social distance in people-filled evacuation centers and emergency shelters.

On the subject: Global warming: severe hurricanes occur in the USA 3,3 times more often than 100 years ago

“(All NDRF workers) must wear masks, everyone must wear a visor, gloves... They will almost certainly carry out rescue work in red (heavily infected) zones... They may actually rescue people who are already infected. It is a dual challenge,” said NDRF Director General Pradhan.

Pradeep Jena, Odish Special Commissioner for Emergencies, said emergency services must balance saving lives from cyclones and coronaviruses.

“We have to find a balance and only evacuate people where it is absolutely necessary, otherwise people will be better off in their own homes,” he said.

?️ Amphan Cyclone

17/5/2020

?️ In just a matter of hours, 'Amphan' will intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm. India's eastern states of Odisha and West Bengal are on alert. Indian Navy has also been put on high alert. NDRF has deployed 17 teams in Odisha and West Bengal pic.twitter.com/DSQafpdzLh

- vorapon patcharasilatong (@ vorapon_pat114) May 19, 2020

The evacuation centers said they were trying to separate the elderly and pregnant women from all other people in shelters.

“Social distancing is certainly a very good concept, but its strict application in an emergency situation is not always possible,” Jena said.

Cyclone Amfan can also bring heavy rains to the world's largest refugee camp in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh, where nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees live after fleeing violence in Myanmar Rakhine.

See anticipated wind impacts for #India and #Bangladesh from Category 5 #TropicalCycloneAmphan... Amphan is expected to produce widespread wind damage along with storm surge over 9 feet in some low lying areas and rainfall of over 6 inches (15.24cm). pic.twitter.com/FAqWj1vqOb

- Pacific Disaster Center (@PDC_Global) May 18, 2020

The first known cases of Covid-19 were confirmed at the camp last week, and as the storm approaches, both disasters can lead to a devastating combination.

One human rights activist said a new outbreak of coronavirus in the camp would be a "nightmare scenario."

“The prevalence of poor health among refugees and the deteriorating sanitation conditions that are sure to occur with the looming monsoon season and flooding are creating a range of conditions in which the virus is bound to thrive,” said Daniel Sullivan, who works for the US-based organization Refugees International.

Read also on ForumDaily:

In California, illegal immigrants received the right to financial assistance in connection with the coronavirus

The American company announced the successful results of vaccine testing: what's next

'Didn't take control': US accused WHO of inaction during coronavirus pandemic

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.