Cyclone Mocha hits Myanmar and Bangladesh, forcing thousands of people to leave risk zones

2023-05-14 17:09:43

Phenomenon has category 5, the highest possible, and generated winds of up to 259 km/h; Waves of up to four meters and flooding are expected in regions close to the coast.

SAI Aung MAIN / AFP

Storms caused by the arrival of the Cyclone forced residents of the region to leave their homes.

O cyclone Mocha arrived this Sunday, the 14th, to the coast of Bangladesh e Myanmar, in the Bay of Bengal, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people. The phenomenon was classified as category 5, the largest existing. According to Joint United States Typhoon Warning Center, the cyclone’s winds reached up to 259 kilometers per hour. The Mocha hit the ground between the cities of Cox’s Bazarem Bangladesh, e Sittwe, in Myanmar. Thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees live in the region in camps that were threatened by the arrival of Mocha. This Saturday, residents of Sittwe were forced to pack their belongings and look for higher ground, as the cyclone is expected to cause waves of up to four meters.

The Bangladeshi authorities informed the AFP that 190,000 people are in safe areas in Cox’s Bazar while another 100,000 have been taken to Chittagong, the country’s second-largest city. Residents of the city of Yangoon, considered the economic capital of Myanmar, which is 500 kilometers away from the impact site, said they felt the rain and wind caused by Mocha. The country’s Red Cross said it was preparing “for a major emergency response”. Rohingya refugees were evacuated from risk zones. Thousands of people also left the tourist island of Saint Martin, off the coast of Bangladesh, as it lies in the cyclone’s predicted path.

Meteorologists predict that the rains caused by the cyclone could flood villages located on the countries’ coasts and on the banks of rivers. Rohingya camps are mostly built on hillsides, in an area where landslides are already frequent. According to authorities, they were sheltered in schools and more solid structures. The cyclone also affected several activities in both countries, forcing operations to stop at Chittagong port, Myanmar’s largest. Activities related to navigation and fishing were also suspended.

*With information from AFP