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| Cyclone Mahasen strikes Bangladeshi coast | Cyclone Mahasen strikes Bangladeshi coast |
| (8 days later) | |
| Cyclone Mahasen has struck the southern coast of Bangladesh, lashing remote fishing villages with heavy rain and fierce winds that flattened mud and straw huts and forced the evacuation of more than 1 million people. | Cyclone Mahasen has struck the southern coast of Bangladesh, lashing remote fishing villages with heavy rain and fierce winds that flattened mud and straw huts and forced the evacuation of more than 1 million people. |
| The main section of the storm reached land on Thursday and immediately began weakening, according to Mohammad Shah Alam, director of the Bangladesh meteorological department. However, its forward movement was also slowing, meaning that towns in its path would have to weather the storm for longer, he said. | The main section of the storm reached land on Thursday and immediately began weakening, according to Mohammad Shah Alam, director of the Bangladesh meteorological department. However, its forward movement was also slowing, meaning that towns in its path would have to weather the storm for longer, he said. |
| Even before the brunt of the storm hit, at least 18 deaths related to Mahasen were reported in Bangladesh, Burma and Sri Lanka. | Even before the brunt of the storm hit, at least 18 deaths related to Mahasen were reported in Bangladesh, Burma and Sri Lanka. |
| The storm could bring life-threatening conditions to about 8.2 million people in Bangladesh, Burma and north-east India, according to the UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. | The storm could bring life-threatening conditions to about 8.2 million people in Bangladesh, Burma and north-east India, according to the UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. |
| Danger was particularly high for tens of thousands of displaced Rohingya people living in plastic-roofed tents and huts made of reeds in dozens of refugee camps along Burma's western coast. | Danger was particularly high for tens of thousands of displaced Rohingya people living in plastic-roofed tents and huts made of reeds in dozens of refugee camps along Burma's western coast. |
| Driven from their homes by violence, members of the Muslim minority group refused to follow evacuation orders. Many distrust officials in the majority-Buddhist country, where Rohingya have faced decades of discrimination. | Driven from their homes by violence, members of the Muslim minority group refused to follow evacuation orders. Many distrust officials in the majority-Buddhist country, where Rohingya have faced decades of discrimination. |
| UN officials, hoping they would inspire greater trust, fanned out across the area to encourage people to leave. | UN officials, hoping they would inspire greater trust, fanned out across the area to encourage people to leave. |
| Early on Thursday, the cyclone battered the southern Bangladesh fishing village of Khepurpara along the Bay of Bengal with 62mph (100km/h) winds and was heading east toward the city of Chittagong and the seafront resort town of Cox's Bazar. River ferries and boat services were suspended, and scores of factories near the Bay of Bengal were closed. The military said it was keeping 22 navy ships and 19 air force helicopters on alert. | Early on Thursday, the cyclone battered the southern Bangladesh fishing village of Khepurpara along the Bay of Bengal with 62mph (100km/h) winds and was heading east toward the city of Chittagong and the seafront resort town of Cox's Bazar. River ferries and boat services were suspended, and scores of factories near the Bay of Bengal were closed. The military said it was keeping 22 navy ships and 19 air force helicopters on alert. |
| Tens of thousands of people fled their shanty homes along the coast and packed into cyclone shelters, schools, government office buildings and some of the 300 hotels in Cox's Bazar to wait out the storm. Some brought their livestock, which took shelter outside. | Tens of thousands of people fled their shanty homes along the coast and packed into cyclone shelters, schools, government office buildings and some of the 300 hotels in Cox's Bazar to wait out the storm. Some brought their livestock, which took shelter outside. |
| "We have seen such a disaster before," said Mohammad Abu Taleb, who shut down his convenience shop in the city of 200,000. "It's better to stay home. I'm not taking any chance." | "We have seen such a disaster before," said Mohammad Abu Taleb, who shut down his convenience shop in the city of 200,000. "It's better to stay home. I'm not taking any chance." |
| A 1991 cyclone that hit Bangladesh killed an estimated 139,000 people and left millions homeless. In 2008, Burma's southern delta was devastated by cyclone Nargis, which swept away entire farming villages and killed more than 130,000 people. | A 1991 cyclone that hit Bangladesh killed an estimated 139,000 people and left millions homeless. In 2008, Burma's southern delta was devastated by cyclone Nargis, which swept away entire farming villages and killed more than 130,000 people. |
| Both those cyclones were much more powerful than cyclone Mahasen, which is rated category 1 – the weakest level. But heavy rain and storm surge could prove deadlier than the wind. Bangladesh's meteorological office said the cyclone was moving so slowly it may take a whole day for it to pass the coast. | Both those cyclones were much more powerful than cyclone Mahasen, which is rated category 1 – the weakest level. But heavy rain and storm surge could prove deadlier than the wind. Bangladesh's meteorological office said the cyclone was moving so slowly it may take a whole day for it to pass the coast. |
| The Bangladesh ministry of disaster management said more than 1 million people had been evacuated from coastal areas. Television stations reported the deaths of two men, one of whom was crushed by a tree uprooted by the wind. | The Bangladesh ministry of disaster management said more than 1 million people had been evacuated from coastal areas. Television stations reported the deaths of two men, one of whom was crushed by a tree uprooted by the wind. |
| Related heavy rains and flooding in Sri Lanka were blamed for eight deaths earlier this week. At least eight people and possibly many more were killed in Burma when overcrowded boats carrying more than 100 Rohingya capsized as they fled the cyclone on Monday night. Only 43 people had been rescued by Thursday, and more than 50 were still missing. | Related heavy rains and flooding in Sri Lanka were blamed for eight deaths earlier this week. At least eight people and possibly many more were killed in Burma when overcrowded boats carrying more than 100 Rohingya capsized as they fled the cyclone on Monday night. Only 43 people had been rescued by Thursday, and more than 50 were still missing. |
| India's meteorological department forecast damage to the north-eastern states of Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Nagaland, and advised fishermen off the west coast of the country to be cautious for the next 36 hours. | India's meteorological department forecast damage to the north-eastern states of Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Nagaland, and advised fishermen off the west coast of the country to be cautious for the next 36 hours. |
| Much attention was focused on western Burma because of the crowded, low-lying camps where many Rohingya remain. | Much attention was focused on western Burma because of the crowded, low-lying camps where many Rohingya remain. |
| In Rakhine state, around 140,000 people – mostly Rohingya – have been living in the camps since last year, when two outbreaks of sectarian violence between the Muslim minority and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists forced many Rohingya from their homes. | In Rakhine state, around 140,000 people – mostly Rohingya – have been living in the camps since last year, when two outbreaks of sectarian violence between the Muslim minority and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists forced many Rohingya from their homes. |
| Nearly half the displaced live in coastal areas considered highly vulnerable to storm surges and flooding. | Nearly half the displaced live in coastal areas considered highly vulnerable to storm surges and flooding. |
| "Pack and leave," a Rakhine state official, U Hla Maung, warned as he walked through a camp near Sittwe, the state capital. Accompanied by more than a dozen soldiers and riot police, he suggested that people living there move to a nearby railroad embankment, then left without offering help. | "Pack and leave," a Rakhine state official, U Hla Maung, warned as he walked through a camp near Sittwe, the state capital. Accompanied by more than a dozen soldiers and riot police, he suggested that people living there move to a nearby railroad embankment, then left without offering help. |
| Some Rohingya took down their tents and hauled their belongings away in cycle-rickshaws, or carried them in bags balanced on their heads. | Some Rohingya took down their tents and hauled their belongings away in cycle-rickshaws, or carried them in bags balanced on their heads. |
| "Now we're afraid. … We decided to move early this morning," said U Kwaw Swe, a 62-year-old father of seven who was hoping the government would transport his family. Otherwise they intended to walk to safety. | "Now we're afraid. … We decided to move early this morning," said U Kwaw Swe, a 62-year-old father of seven who was hoping the government would transport his family. Otherwise they intended to walk to safety. |
| Ko Hla Maung, an unemployed fisherman, was among those who had not left. | Ko Hla Maung, an unemployed fisherman, was among those who had not left. |
| "We have no safe place to move, so we're staying here, whether the storm comes or not," he said. " … The soldiers want to take us to a village closer to the sea, and we're not going to do that. … If the storm is coming, then that village will be destroyed." | "We have no safe place to move, so we're staying here, whether the storm comes or not," he said. " … The soldiers want to take us to a village closer to the sea, and we're not going to do that. … If the storm is coming, then that village will be destroyed." |
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