India, Bangladesh prepare for mighty Cyclone Amphan

A scientist from the Indian Meteorological Department points to a section of the screen showing the position of Cyclone Amphan in his office in Calcutta, India, on May 19, 2020. REUTERS / Rupak De Chowdhuri

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In India and Bangladesh, millions of coastal residents are preparing for the arrival of Cyclone Amphan on Wednesday, May 20. The storm, currently in the Bay of Bengal, has weakened, moving up north-east India and south-west Bangladesh. However, its impact is likely to be catastrophic.

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It is the most powerful cyclone since Sidr which claimed nearly 3,500 lives in 2007. Amphan is expected to hit the coasts of Bangladesh and India with gusts that will blow at more than 200 kilometers per hour.

A tropical storm accompanied by heavy rain which could cause major flooding. Forecasters fear in particular a sudden rise in the waters of the Ganges delta, the largest delta in the world and the most populated.

Millions of Indians and Bangladeshis living in coastal areas prepare for the worst and join the cyclone shelters leaving everything behind.

But the coronavirus pandemic is making it more difficult for rescue workers. Bangladesh has had to double the number of shelters so that the displaced are not too close to each other. Wearing a mask is compulsory. Soap, water and masks are also the watchwords in the Indian region of Odisha.

Humanitarian associations fear, however, that residents are reluctant to be evacuated, for fear of ending up in crowded shelters.

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  • India
  • Bangladesh
  • Natural disasters
  • Severe weather

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