Cyclone Remal Threatens Bangladesh and India
Hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshis fled their coastal villages on Sunday, seeking refuge in concrete storm shelters further inland. The low-lying nation braced for the impact of Cyclone Remal, which was expected to make landfall later that evening.
Cyclone Remal was predicted to bring howling gales and gusts of up to 130 kilometers per hour to the southern coast of Bangladesh and parts of neighboring India. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department warned of a storm surge of up to 4 meters above normal tide, posing a significant threat to coastal villages.
Authorities deployed tens of thousands of volunteers to evacuate people to over 4,000 cyclone shelters. However, some residents remained hesitant to leave their homes, fearing theft of their belongings. Schools were closed until further notice, and Kolkata airport in India was shut down for 21 hours.
The danger signal was raised to its highest level, warning fishermen against venturing into the sea. The densely populated coastal areas of Bangladesh are particularly vulnerable to cyclones, with most areas only one or two meters above sea level.
Cyclone Remal marked the first cyclone in the Bay of Bengal ahead of the monsoon season, which runs from June to September. Cyclones have historically caused significant devastation in Bangladesh, killing hundreds of thousands of people in recent decades. The frequency of these superstorms has increased in recent years, attributed to the impact of climate change.
The Indian Navy prepared two ships equipped with aid and medical supplies to assist those affected by the cyclone.
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