The most powerful storm in the last ten years hit the coasts of Bangladesh and Burma on Sunday morning. Cyclone Mocha, accompanied by winds of up to 210 km/h, could cause storm surges of up to 4 m high, and cause significant damage, especially on fragile habitats in low-lying areas. More than 2 million people are directly in its path, mostly in Myanmar's Rakhine State, which was hit in the morning, and Chin State. The UN Satellite Centre has warned that many more people could be affected as the storm moves inland from the Bay of Bengal.
The eye of the cyclone is expected to make landfall in the afternoon near the regional capital of Sittwe, which has been placed on a high weather alert, Myanmar's meteorological department said on Sunday. Only 4,000 of Sittwe's estimated 150,000 to 300,000 residents - the number varies depending on the source - have been evacuated to other towns since Friday and more than 20,000 people have taken refuge in solid buildings such as monasteries, pagodas and schools on the heights of the city. Tin Nyein Oo said. Strong winds of 40 to 48 km/h were already blowing in the morning.
The rough sea, already strong winds
At least 100,000 people in impoverished Rakhine state have moved to safer areas since last week, a large ethnic militia and the UN humanitarian office (OCHA) said. "We use monasteries and schools as shelters," said Khine Thu Kha, spokesman for the Rakhine army.
Bangladesh, home to more than 160 million people, has prepared more than 1,500 cyclone shelters. The navy said it was holding 21 ships, maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters ready for rescue and rescue operations. Nearly 400,000 people living in the eight coastal districts that could be most affected have been displaced.
"Saving lives is our top priority," said Mijanur Rahman, disaster relief officer. Sunday morning, the weather was still sunny but the forecast is worrying. Aid workers are concerned about the risks faced by more than a million Rohingya refugees, including half a million children, living in camps in the seaside town of Cox's Bazar, near the cyclone's path. Tons of dry food and dozens of ambulances with mobile medical teams have been pre-positioned in sprawling refugee camps that are home to more than a million Rohingya who have fled persecution in neighboring Myanmar. Some 1.27 million people had been evacuated in Cox's Bazar district. As of Sunday morning, no heavy rain had been reported in Cox's Bazar. The sea was rough, as if waiting.
Women and children take shelter in a school on Shahpori Island, at the mouth of the river that divides Bangladesh and Burma. AFP/Munir uz zaman AFP or licensors
Deputy Minister for Disaster Management Enamur Rahman said the Bay of Bengal island of St. Maarten could be exposed to a greater risk. The government has prepared 37 cyclone shelters that can accommodate 8,500 people.
In May 2008, Cyclone Nargis hit Burma hard. The storm surge had devastated populated areas around the Irrawaddy River delta. At least 138,000 people had died or been considered to have died, and tens of thousands of homes and other buildings had been washed away.
