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Cyclone and Bangladesh: A Historical and Environmental Overview from 1582 to
2020
Article in International Medical Journal (1994) · September 2020
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ISSN: 13412051
Volume 25, Issue 06, June, 2020
Cyclone and Bangladesh: A Historical and
Environmental Overview from 1582 to 2020
Irin Hossain1, Ashekur Rahman Mullick2
National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM), Dhaka, Bangladesh1,2
ABSTRACT— Typhoons are tropical revolving storms. They are called `Cyclones' in English, when they
occur in the Indian Ocean area. The coastal regions of Bangladesh are subject to damaging cyclones almost
every year. They generally occur in early summer (April-May) or late rainy season (October-November).
Cyclones originate from low atmospheric pressures over the Bay of Bengal. Due to unique geographic
location, Bangladesh suffers a lot from devastating tropical cyclones frequently. The funnel-shaped northern
portion of the Bay of Bengal amplifies the storm surge of landfilling tropical cyclones, affecting thousands
of people. Some of the most devastating natural disasters in recorded history with high casualties were
tropical cyclones that hit the region now comprising present-day Bangladesh. Among them, the 1970 Bhola
cyclone alone claimed approximately 300,000 to 500,000 lives, making it the deadliest tropical cyclone on
record. Tropical cyclones affecting Bangladesh have killed about 1.54 million people in Bengal (including
India ruled Bengal). This study tried to explain the historical and environmental overview of each and every
cyclone took place in the greater Bengal territory from 1582 to till date.
KEYWORDS: Cyclone, Typhoons, Hurricane, Bangladesh, South-East Asia, Historical and Environmental
Overview.
1. INTRODUCTION
Tropical cyclones affecting south Asia originate over surrounding oceans, especially in the Bay of Bengal.
They require at least five conditions to form and develop: low pressure at the surface; abundant moist air
capable of convective or upward movement in the atmosphere; ocean surface temperatures over 26–27
degrees Celsius; small wind shear; the rate at which wind strength and direction change with height in the
atmosphere (especially for the taller more intense systems); and the power of the Earth's rotation to spin the
system into a rotating vortex. Tropical cyclones in South Asia derive their main energy from intense
evaporation over warm water; not, as in mid-latitude cyclones, from contrasting temperatures between cold
and warmer air masses1. Due to unique geographic location, Bangladesh suffers a lot from devastating
tropical cyclones frequently. The funnel-shaped northern portion of the Bay of Bengal amplifies the storm
surge of landfilling tropical cyclones, affecting thousands of people. Some of the most devastating natural
disasters in recorded history with high casualties were tropical cyclones that hit the region now comprising
present-day Bangladesh. Among them, the 1970 Bhola cyclone alone claimed approximately 300,000 to
500,000 lives, making it the deadliest tropical cyclone on record. Tropical cyclones affecting Bangladesh
have killed about 1.54 million people in Bengal (including India ruled Bengal)2. A detailed program for
storm prevention was outlined by the government following the cyclone of 1991. A Comprehensive Cyclone
Preparedness Programme (CPP) is jointly planned, operated, and managed by the Ministry of Disaster
Management and Relief and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society; a volunteer force of more than 32,000
are trained to help in warning and evacuation in the coastal areas. Around 2,500 cyclone shelters have been
constructed in the coastal regions. The shelters are built on elevated platforms and serve the dual role of
schools or community centers during normal weather. In Patenga, Chittagong, the coast has been heavily
2595
I. Hossain and A. R. Mullick, 2020
International Medical Journal
protected with concrete levees. Also, afforestation has been initiated in the coastal regions to create a green
belt3.
2. An Overview of Cyclone
Typhoons are tropical revolving storms. They are called `Cyclones' in English, when they occur in the
Indian Ocean area. The coastal regions of Bangladesh are subject to damaging cyclones almost every year.
They generally occur in early summer (April-May) or late rainy season (October-November). Cyclones
originate from low atmospheric pressures over the Bay of Bengal. Cyclones in the South Asian SubContinent are presently classified according to their intensity and the following nomenclature is in use 4
(Table 01).
Table 01: Classification of Cyclones in South Asian Sub-Continent
Table 01: Classification of Cyclones In South Asian Sub-Continent
Winds up to 62 km/h
Depression
Winds from 63-87 km/h
Cyclonic Storm
Winds from 88-118 km/h
Severe Cyclonic Storm
Winds above 118 km/h
Severe Cyclonic Storm of Cyclone Intensity
Most of the coastal areas of the world are at risk from natural hazards created by geological or
meteorological disturbances. The hazards are classified as:
1) Short term (minutes, hours, or days) events associated with storms or earthquakes (tsunamis), and
2) Long-term events (decades, millennia) related to changes in rise of sea level caused by secular eustatic
(atmospheric, cryospheric, geoidal) or isostatic (tectonic) processes.
Tropical cyclones or Cyclones are common within latitude 30o north and south. These intense storms move
across shallow shelf seas; the water is being piled-up along the coast as a surge. In most cases the mixture of
these effects creates most dreadful effects in the coastal regions, a gradual rise in the regional sea level
produces enhanced landward penetration of surges and storm waves5. These storms are called Cyclones
when they form in the Atlantic Ocean, and tropical cyclones in the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal. Other
regional names for these storms are typhoons, severe tropical cyclones, and severe cyclonic storms. In this
article the terms tropical cyclone and typhoon and Cyclone are used interchangeably. Tropical cyclones can
inflict terrible damage due to thunderstorms and tornadoes, violent winds, torrential rain with accompanying
flooding and landslides, incredible waves, and extremely high tides associated with tidal surges. Extremely
strong winds can reach out as little as 25 miles from the center of a small tropical cyclone and as far as 150
miles from the center of a large tropical cyclone. Less-strong but still damaging winds can extend as far as
300 miles from the center of a large tropical cyclone. These are very dangerous storms6.
3. Formation of Cyclone
Tropical cyclones affecting south Asia originate over surrounding oceans, especially in the Bay of Bengal.
They require at least five conditions to form and develop: low pressure at the surface; abundant moist air
capable of convective or upward movement in the atmosphere; ocean surface temperatures over 26–27
degrees Celsius; small wind shear; the rate at which wind strength and direction change with height in the
atmosphere, (especially for the taller more intense systems); and the power of the Earth's rotation to spin the
system into a rotating vortex. Tropical cyclones in South Asia derive their main energy from intense
evaporation over warm water, not, as in mid-latitude cyclones, from contrasting temperatures between cold
and warmer air masses. Water vapour, evaporated from the sea, is drawn into the developing cyclone. As the
2596
ISSN: 13412051
Volume 25, Issue 06, June, 2020
rising air within the cyclone cools, the evaporated moisture becomes cloud, forming billions of tiny water
droplets. Converting the water vapour to water droplets releases a great amount of (latent) heat, providing
energy that helps invigorate and maintain the cyclone's development1.
4. Strength and Speed of Cyclone
There are certain differences in the ways tropical cyclones and Cyclones are measured in the United States
and other countries, in particular how the storms’ strength and speed are measured. In the United States,
these storms’ sustained wind speeds are measured in statute miles per hour, while in Bangladesh the
typhoon’s speed is measured in kilometres per hour and the sustained winds within the storm are measured
in meters per second. The conversion is: 1 knot (kt) = 1.15 mile per hour (mph) = 1.85 kilometres per hour
(km/h) = 0.514 meters per second (m/s). Second, the time period over which maximum sustained wind
speed is measured is different: in the United States the wind speed is measured over a one-minute period at
a height of 10 meters above the earth’s surface, in most other countries it is measured over a three-minute
period and in a few countries over a ten-minute period. In practice, this means that an identical storm would
show lower wind speeds in other countries and higher wind speeds in the United States. Put differently, to
an American this means that a tropical cyclone in other countries with winds of a given speed will be more
destructive than would be expected for a storm of that size. Note that gusts of wind are not factored into the
sustained wind speed, and these gusts’ speeds can be 20% or even higher than the speed of the sustained
winds. Third, in other countries, the air pressure of the eye of the storm is measured in hectoPascals (one
hectoPascal [hPa] = 1 millibar [mb]) while in the United States it is measured in inches of mercury (1 inch
of mercury = 25.4 mm of mercury = 33.86 millibars = 33.86 hectoPascals). In general, the lower the air
pressure in the eye of the storm, the more powerful the storm6.
5. Major Cyclones in Bangladesh
Cyclones are very destructive to property and in terms of lives lost. Bangladesh has experienced both. The
following recent tropical cyclones are notable for their loss of human life in Bangladesh6 (Table 02). The
number of deaths in each storm vary by reporter, and the numbers listed are approximate and may not be
accurate. What we should remember is that these storms are dangerous.
Table 02: Major Cyclones in Bangladesh
Location
Date
Feni-Chittagong coast
October 26, 1962
Barisal-Chittagong coast
May 10, 1965
Khulna-Chittagong coast
November 12, 1970
Patuakhali-Cox’s Bazar coast
April 29, 1991
Number of Deaths
50,000
20,000
300,000
150,000
At least 12 major tropical cyclones hit the country since 1965, leaving 479,490 people dead. According to
the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Bangladesh was one of the worst sufferers of cyclones in
terms of casualties. Among the total 88 cyclones took place in the grater Bengal territory most of them were
in Cox’s Bazar, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Chattogram, Teknaf, Sonadia coast and Kutubdia Island (42 cyclones)
followed by Sunderban (18 cyclones) (Figure 1).
2597
I. Hossain and A. R. Mullick, 2020
International Medical Journal
Cyclone-Prone Areas in Bangladesh
(1582-2020)
Bakerganj coast (presently in
Barisal and Patuakhali).
45
42
Eastern Meghna estuary
40
35
Sunderban
30
Barisal
25
20
Head Bay (Bengal coast)
18
15
8
10
5
2
Cox’s Bazar, Patuakhali, Noakhali,
Chattogram, Teknaf, Sonadia
coast and Kutubdia Island
North Bengal
9
3
0
5
1
Muktagachha upazila
(Mymensingh District)
Figure 1: Cyclone-Prone Areas in Bangladesh (1582-2020)
Here are some of the severe tropical cyclones that hit Bangladesh since 1965 21.
1.
Bhola Cyclone (November 11, 1970)
2.
The April 1991 Cyclone
3.
Barisal Cyclone (May 11, 1965)
4.
The December 1965 Cyclone
5.
The October 1966 Cyclone
6.
Urir Char Cyclone (May 25, 1985)
7.
Cyclone 04B (November 30, 1988)
8.
May 1997 Cyclone
9.
Cyclone Sidr (November 15, 2007)
10.
Cyclone Aila (May 25, 2009)
11.
Cyclone Mahasen (May 16, 2013)
12.
Cyclone Roanu (May 21, 2016)
6. Tropical Cyclones in Bangladesh
Tropical cyclones generally strike Bangladesh in two seasons, March through July and September through
December, with the greatest majority of storms arriving in May and October. Bangladesh Space Research
and Remote Sensing Organisation (SPARRSO), a government agency under the Ministry of Defence
provides storm predictions and early warnings using feeds from NASA and NOAA's satellites. The
warnings are usually given in a scale of 10, with 10 being used for the deadliest storms2,6.
Alert Stage: Signal No. I, II, and III
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ISSN: 13412051
Volume 25, Issue 06, June, 2020
Warning Stage: Signal No. IV
Disaster Stage: Signal No. V, VI, VII and VIII, IX, and X
Table 03: Historical and Environmental Overview of Cyclone in Bangladesh from 1582 to 2020
Seria
Date/
Affected
Type of
Deaths Other Information
References/
l No
Month/
Area
Distribution
Source of
Year
Information
1582
Bakerganj
Severe 200,000
- A five-hour Bengal District
1.
coast
Cyclonic
people
Cyclone and
Gazetteer, 24
(presently
Storm with a
thunderstorm
Parganas7
in Barisal
core of
destroyed houses
and
Cyclone
and boats in the
Patuakhal
winds
coast near
i).
Bakerganj
(presently in
Barisal and
Patuakhali)
- Only Hindu
temples with a
strong foundation
were spared
1585
Eastern
Unknown Unknow A tropical storm hit
Webster P.J.,
2.
Meghna
n
the eastern side of Holland, G.J.,
estuary
Bakerganj (now
Curry, J.A. et
Barisal) near the
al8
mouth of the
Meghna River
estuary, causing
devastation of
crops.
1699
Sunderba
Severe
50,000
Unknown Daily Ittefaq, 5
3.
n
Cyclonic
people
May 19919
Storm
1760
Sunderba
Severe Unknow
Unknown Daily Ittefaq, 5
4.
n
Cyclonic
n
May 19919
Storm
1765
Chattogra
Severe Unknow
Unknown Daily Ittefaq, 5
5.
m
Cyclonic
n
May 19919
Storm
1767
Bakerganj
Severe
30,000 Surge height: 13.03 Daily Ittefaq, 5
6.
coast
Cyclonic
people
m (43 ft)
May 19919
(presently
Storm
in
Barisal)
Chattogra
Severe Unknow
Every house in the
Bangladesh
7. 1797 (May2599
I. Hossain and A. R. Mullick, 2020
June)
8.
1822 (MayJune)
9. 1823 (2 June)
10. 1824 (8 June)
11.
12.
1831 (31
October)
1839 (3-5
June)
13. 1839 (19-21
September)
14. 1844 (11
May)
15.
1847
16. 1849 (12-13
May)
17. 1850 (23-28
April)
18. 1852 (12-15
May)
International Medical Journal
m
Barisal
Chattogra
m
Chattogra
m
Barisal
Head Bay
(Bengal
coast)
Sunderba
n
Noakhali
and
Chattogra
m coast
Various
locations
in Bengal
coast
Chattogra
m
North
Bengal
Sunderba
n
Cyclonic
Storm with a
core of
Cyclone
winds
Severe
Cyclonic
Storm with a
core of
Cyclone
winds
Cyclonic
Storm
Heavy Storm
(Severe
Cyclonic
Storm
Severe
Cyclonic
Storm
n
area was destroyed.
Two ships were
sunk in Chittagong
Port.
Meteorologica
l Department10
50,000
people
Cattle killed =
100,000.
Journal of
Asiatic SOC.
of Bengal11
Unknow
n
Unknow
n
22,000
people
Storm wave swept
away the
collectorate
records.
Unknown
Sailors Horn
Book for the
law of storms12
F. Henderson13
Unknown
F. Henderson13
Surge height: 2.12–
4.55 m (7–15 ft)
Bangladesh
Meteorologica
l Department10
Cattle killed >
50,000 Bengal District
Gazetteer,
Balasore14
Unknown F. Henderson13
Cyclonic
Storm
Unknow
n
Cyclonic
Storm
Cyclonic
Storm
Unknow
n
Unknow
n
Unknown
F. Henderson13
Unknown
F. Henderson13
Cyclonic
Storm
75,000
people
Unknown
Dipankar C.
Patnaik & N.
Sivagnanam15
Cyclonic
Storm
Cyclonic
Storm
Cyclonic
Storm
Unknow
n
Unknow
n
Unknow
n
Unknown
F. Henderson13
Unknown
F. Henderson13
Formation: Formed
near 15°N.
Coast: It moved
F. Henderson13
2600
ISSN: 13412051
Volume 25, Issue 06, June, 2020
19. 1869 (13-17
May)
Various
locations
in Bengal
coast
Cyclonic
Storm
Unknow
n
20. 1869 (5-10
June)
North
Bengal
Cyclonic
Storm
Unknow
n
1872
(October)
22. 1876 (27
October-1
November)
Cox’s
Bazar
Patuakhal
i,
Noakhali
and
Chattogra
m coast
Cyclonic
Storm
Severe
Cyclonic
Storm with a
core of
Cyclone
winds
Unknow
n
200,000
people
21.
“(The Great
Backerganj
Cyclone of
1876)”
23.
24.
1895
(October)
1897 (24
October)
25. 1898 (May)
26.
1901
(November)
1904
(November)
28. 1909 (16
October)
27.
Sunderba
n
Chattogra
m and
Kutubdia
island
Teknaf
Western
Sunderba
n
Sonadia
coast
Chattogra
m
northward and
crossed the
Sundarbans coast;
the center passed
39 miles (63 km)
east of Kolkata
The storm moved
northwestward
from Cape Negrais
to Bengal and
crossed the Bengal
coast
From the North
Bay the cyclone
passed over Bengal.
Unknown
Maximum wind:
220 km/h (119
knots)
Surge height: 3–
13.6 m (10–45 ft)
Cyclonic
Storm
Cyclonic
Storm
Unknow
n
14,000
people
Tropical
cyclone with
storm surge
Cyclonic
Storm
Unknow
n
Cyclonic
Storm
Cyclonic
Storm
The storm also
caused epidemic
and famine, and
vast property
damage.
Unknown
F. Henderson13
F. Henderson13
F. Henderson13
F. Henderson13
D.V.
Nalivkin16
Journal of
Asiatic SOC.
of Bengal11
Khan S. R.117
The resulting
epidemic of
Cholera killed
another 18,000
Unknown
The Mercury
(Hobart, Tas. :
1860 - 1954)18
Unknow
n
Unknown
Khan S. R.117
143
people
698
people
Unknown
Khan S. R.17
Casualty:70,654
cattle
T.S.Murty et
al., 198619
Khan S. R.17
2601
I. Hossain and A. R. Mullick, 2020
1909
(December)
30. 1911 (April)
29.
31.
1913
(October)
1917 (24
September)
1919
33.
(September)
34. 1922 (April)
32.
Cox's
Bazar
Teknaf
Muktagac
hha
upazila
(Mymensi
ngh
District)
Sunderba
n
Barisal
Teknaf
35. 1923 (May)
Teknaf
36. 1926 (May)
Cox’s
Bazar
Eastern
Meghna
estuary
Sunderba
n
Between
Noakhali
&
Chattogra
m
Patuakhal
i
Eastern
Meghna
estuary
Noakhali
and West
Meghna
estuary
Sunderba
n Coast
(landfall
at
Sunderba
n)
37.
1941 (26
May)
1942
(October)
39. 1948 (17-19
May)
38.
40. 1950 (15-20
November)
1958
(16-19
41.
May)
42. 1958 (21-24
October)
43. 1960 (25-29
May)
International Medical Journal
Unknown
Khan S. R.17
Unknown
Khan S. R.17
A tropical cyclone,
having moved
inland destroyed
villages.
Khan S. R.17
432
people
40,000
people
Unknow
n
Unknow
n
606
people
7,000
people
Casualty: 28,029
cattle
Unknown
Khan S. R.17
Unknown
Khan S. R.17
Unknown
T.S.Murty et
al., 198619
T.S.Murty et
al., 198619
T.S.Murty et
al., 198619
Cyclonic
Storm
Cyclonic
Storm
Unknow
n
1200
people
Unknown
Khan S. R.17
Casualty: 20,000
cattle.
Khan S. R.17
Cyclonic
Storm
Cyclonic
Storm
Unknow
n
870
people
Unknown
Khan S. R.17
Casualty: 14,500
cattle
Khan S. R.17
Cyclonic
Storm
12,000
people
Approx. 100,000
families were
rendered homeless.
Khan S. R.17
Cyclonic
Storm
106
people
Unknown
Khan S. R.17
Cyclonic
Storm
Cyclonic
Storm
Cyclonic
Storm
Unknow
n
120,000
people
500
people
Cyclonic
Storm
Cyclonic
Storm
Cyclonic
Storm
Cyclonic
Storm
Cyclonic
Storm
Cyclonic
Storm
Unknown
Unknown
Khan S. R.17
2602
ISSN: 13412051
Volume 25, Issue 06, June, 2020
44. 1960 (9-10
October)
Meghna
estuary
(landfall
at
Noakhali)
Severe
Cyclonic
Storm
3,000
people.
45. 1960 (30-31
October)
Chattogra
m coast
(landfall
at
Chattogra
m)
Severe
Cyclonic
Storm
10,000
people
Meghna
estuary
(landfall
near
Feni
river)
Severe
Cyclonic
Storm
11,468
people
47. 1961 (27-30
May)
Chattogra
mNoakhali
coast
Cyclonic
storm
10,466
people
48. 1962 (26-30
October)
FeniChattogra
m
Severe
Cyclonic
Storm
50,000
people
46.
1961 (6-9
May)
Maximum
Wind:201 km/hour
Maximum Surge:
3.05 metres
Casualty: Other
effects: 62,725
houses destroyed.
Crops on 94,000
acres (380 km2) of
land were
destroyed
Maximum
Wind:210 km/h
Surge: 4.5–6.1 m
Casualty:
27,793 cattle.
Losses: 568,161
houses destroyed
(including 70%
houses in Hatiya).
Also, two large
ocean-going ships
ran aground in the
shore, and 5–7
vessels capsized in
Karnaphuli River.
Maximum
Wind:161 km/h
Surge height:2.443.05 m
Casualty: 25,000
cattle. Damages:
The railway tracks
between Noakhali
and Harinarayanpur
were damaged.
w=95 to 145
km/h and total
water level
was 7m at
Chittagong
Maximum
Wind:161 km/h
Surge height:2.5-
Khan S. R.17
Khan S. R.17
T.S.Murty et
al., 198619
T.S.Murty et
al., 198619
T.S.Murty et
al., 198619
2603
I. Hossain and A. R. Mullick, 2020
49. 1963 (28-29
May)
coast
NoakhaliCox's
Bazar
Coast
(landfall
near
Chattogra
m)
International Medical Journal
Severe
Cyclonic
Storm
11,520
people
50.
1963 (5-8
June)
51. 1963 (25-29
October)
Sunderba
n
Teknaf
Cyclonic
storm
Cyclonic
storm
Unknow
n
Unknow
n
52. 1965 (11-12
May)
BarisalChattogra
m coast
(landfall
between
Barisal
and
Noakhali)
Chattogra
m Coast
(landfall
near
Chattogra
m)
Cox's
BazarTeknaf
coast
(landfall
near
Cox's
Bazar)
Chattogra
m and
Sandwip
(landfall
near
Chattogra
m)
Cyclonic
Storm
19,279
people
“Barishal
Cyclone”
53.
1965 (31
May-1 June)
54. 1965 (14-15
December)
55.
1966 (1
October)
Severe
Cyclonic
Storm
12,000
people
Cyclonic
Storm
873
people
Cyclonic
Storm
850
people
3.0 m
Maximum
Wind:203 km/h
(164 km/h at Cox's
Bazar)
Surge height:4.35.2 m
Casualty: 32,617
cattle. Damages:
376,332 houses,
4,787 boats, and
standing crops.
s=3.1m and
t=0.0m.
w=105
km/h, s=2.2m and
t=0.0m
Wind speed was
about 160 km per
hour associated
with storm surge of
3.7-7.6 metre.
Khan S. R.17
Khalil,
M.G.,199220
Khalil,
M.G.,199220
Dhaka
Tribune21
Khan S. R.17
Tide plus surge was
7.1m at
Companyganj. At
Chittagong 1.6m
surge on
tide.
Wind speed was
about 217 km per
hour and 2.3-3.6
metre storm surges.
Murty, T.S.
and El-Sabh,
M.I., 199222
Wind speed was
about 139 km per
hour associated
with storm surges
of 6-7 metre.
Total people
affected: 1.5
Dhaka
Tribune21
Dhaka
Tribune21
2604
ISSN: 13412051
Volume 25, Issue 06, June, 2020
1966 (12
December)
57. 1967 (11
October)
56.
58. 1967 (23-24
October)
59.
1969 (11
October)
60.
1970 (5-7
May)
61. 1970 (7-13
November)
“Bhola
Cyclone”
million people.
Unknown
Cox's
Bazar
Sunderba
nNoakhali
coast
(landfall
at
Noakhali)
Chattogra
m-Cox's
Bazar
coast
(landfall
in
between)
Khulna
coast
Cyclonic
Storm
Cyclonic
Storm
Unknow
n
Unknow
n
Cyclonic
Storm
128
people
w=130
km/h, s=2m and
t=0.0m.
Murty, T.S.
and El-Sabh,
M.I., 199222
Cyclonic
Storm
175
people
Unknown
Chattogra
m-Teknaf
coast
(landfall
at Cox's
Bazar)
KhulnaChattogra
m coast
(landfall
at Hatia)
Cyclonic
Storm
18
people
w=148
km/h, s=2.3m and
t=0.2m.
Murty, T.S.
and El-Sabh,
M.I., 199222
Murty, T.S.
and El-Sabh,
M.I., 199222
Severe
Cyclonic
Storm
300,000
people
Damages include
destruction of
approximately
20,000 fishing
boats, and also
property and crops.
Total loss of cattle
reached more than
one million. More
than 400,000
houses and 3,500
educational
institutions were
destroyed.
Maximum
Wind:222 km/h
w=160
km/h, s=3.0m and
t=0.0m.
Khalil, M.G.,
199220
Khalil, M.G.,
199220
US Embassy
of
Bangladesh6,
Dhaka
Tribune21
Maximum
Surge:10.6 m.
2605
I. Hossain and A. R. Mullick, 2020
1971 (7-8
May)
63. 1971 (5-6
November)
62.
64. 1971 (28-30
November)
65. 1973 (16-18
November)
66. 1973 (6-9
December)
67. 1974 (13-15
August)
68. 1974 (24-28
November)
69. 1975 (9-12
May)
70. 1976 (19-20
October)
International Medical Journal
Meghna
estuary
Chattogra
m coast
(landfall
near
Chattogra
m)
Sunderba
n coast
Cyclonic
Storm
Cyclonic
Storm
Unknow
n
Unknow
n
w=80 km/h.
Cyclonic
Storm
11,000
people
Chattogra
m coast
Sunderba
nPatuakhal
i coast
(landfall
at
Sunderba
n)
Khulna
coast
Cyclonic
Storm
Cyclonic
Storm
Unknow
n
Unknow
n
Wind Speed:97–
113 km/h
Surge height:1 m
Effect: Low-lying
areas of Khulna
town inundated
Unknown
Cyclonic
Storm
600
people
Maximum
Wind:80.5 km/h
Cox's
BazarChattogra
moffshore
Islands
(landfall
at
Chattogra
m)
Sunderba
n-BholaChattogra
m
coast
Meghna
estuary
Cyclonic
Storm
200
people
Maximum
Wind:161 km/h
Surge height:2.85.2 m
Casualty: 1000
cattle. Damages:
2,300 houses
destroyed.
Severe
cyclonic
storm
5 people
w=110 km/h.
Murty, T.S.
and El-Sabh,
M.I., 199222
Cyclonic
Storm
Unknow
n
w=105
km/h, tide plus
surge at
Murty, T.S.
and El-Sabh,
M.I., 199222
Unknown
Coastal areas near
Patuakhali and
nearby islands were
submerged under
the tidal bore.
US Embassy
of Bangladesh6
Khalil, M.G.,
199220
Khalil, M.G.,
199220
Khalil, M.G.,
199220
Khalil, M.G.,
199220
Murty, T.S.
and El-Sabh,
M.I., 199222
Murty, T.S.
and El-Sabh,
M.I., 199222
2606
ISSN: 13412051
Volume 25, Issue 06, June, 2020
71. 1977 (9-12
May)
1978 (30
September-3
October)
1983
73.
(15October)
72.
74.
1983 (9
November)
75. 1985 (24-25
May)
“Urir Char
Cyclone”
76.
1986 (9
November)
77. 1988 (29-30
November)
“Cyclone
04B”
Sunderba
nChattogra
m coast
(landfall
at
Sunderba
n)
Sunderba
n khulna
coast
Chattogra
m-Feni
coast
(landfall
near
Chattogra
m)
Chattogra
m-Teknaf
coast
(landfall
between
Chattogra
m
and Cox's
Bazar)
NoakhaliCox's
Bazar
coast
(landfall
at
Sandwip)
BargunaChattogra
m coast
Sunderba
n
Companygonj was
3.5m.
w=113 km/h,
s=0.6m and
t=0.7m.
Cyclonic
Storm
Unknow
n
Cyclonic
Storm
Unknow
n
w=74 km/h.
Cyclonic
Storm
43
people
w=122 km/h.
1000
fishermen missing
and 20% aman
crops destroyed
Severe
Cyclonic
Storm
Unknow
n
w=136 km/h,
s=2.5m.
300 fishermen with
50 boats
missing; 2000
houses,22
institutions
destroyed
Murty, T.S.
and El-Sabh,
M.I., 199222
Severe
cyclone
11,069
people
- Hit the country
with a wind speed
of 154 km per hour
and 3.0-4.6 metre
storm surges.
- 94,379 houses
were damaged
w=110 km/h.
The
Independent,
Bangladesh23
Cyclonic
Storm
14
people
Severe
cyclonic
storm
5,708
people
- Wind speed was
162 km per hour
accompanied by a
storm surge of 4.5
metre.
Murty, T.S.
and El-Sabh,
M.I., 199222
Murty, T.S.
and El-Sabh,
M.I., 199222
Murty, T.S.
and El-Sabh,
M.I., 199222
Dhaka
Tribune21
Murty, T.S.
and El-Sabh,
M.I., 199222
The
Independent,
Bangladesh23
Dhaka
Tribune21
2607
I. Hossain and A. R. Mullick, 2020
78.
1990 (7-8
October)
79.
1991 (29
April)
BargunaNoakhali
coast
Patuakhal
i-Cox's
Bazar
coast
(landfall
north of
Chattogra
m)
International Medical Journal
Cyclonic
Storm
Unknow
n
Catastrophic
cyclone
138,000
people
150 fishermen with
16 mechanised
boats missing
It caused a damage
of around $1.5
billion.
US Embassy
of
Bangladesh6,
80.
1997 (19
May)
Coastal
belt of
Banglades
h
Cyclonic
Storm
155
people
Wind speed was
230 km per hour
81.
2007 (15
November)
Coastal
belt of
Banglades
h
Cyclonic
Storm
3,363
people
- Hit the country’s
coastal belt with a
wind speed of 223
km per hour
“Cyclone
Sidr”
82. 2008 (8 May)
83.
“Cyclone
Nargis”
2009 (25
May)
“Cyclone
Aila”
84.
2013 (16
May)
“Cyclone
Mahasen”
Murty, T.S.
and El-Sabh,
M.I., 199222
The
Independent,
Bangladesh23,
Coastal
belt of
Banglades
h
Offshore
15
districts
of
southwest
ern part of
Banglades
h
Cyclonic
Storm
3500
people
Unknown
Cyclonic
Storm
150
people
Chattogra
m
Cyclonic
Storm
- 200,000 houses
were damaged in
the storm
- Combined with
high tides, the
cyclone surge
caused widespread
flooding and
damaged in the
southern districts.
- Wind speed was
120 km per hour.
Wind speed was 85
km per hour.
17
people
Dhaka
Tribune21
The
Independent,
Bangladesh23
Dhaka
Tribune21
The
Independent,
Bangladesh23
Dhaka
Tribune21
US Embassy
of Bangladesh6
The
Independent,
Bangladesh23
Dhaka
Tribune21
The
Independent,
Bangladesh23
Dhaka
Tribune21
2608
ISSN: 13412051
Volume 25, Issue 06, June, 2020
85.
2016 (21
May)
Chattogra
m
Cyclonic
Storm
26
people
“Cyclone
Roanu”
86.
2017 (28
May)
Cox’s
Bazar
“Cyclone
Mora”
87. 2019 (4 May)
“Cyclone
Fani”
88.
2020 (21
May)
“Cyclone
Amphan”
- Coastal
belt of
Banglades
h
(northeast
ward)
- Eastern
coast of
India
Patuakhal
i,
Satkhira,
Pirojpur,
Bhola and
Barguna
Cyclonic
Storm
7 people
Cyclone with
the strongest
storm
12
people
Cyclone with
the strongest
storm
18
people
Around 40,000
houses were
damaged in the
storm.
High winds, heavy
rain and tidal
surges triggered
severe floods and
landslides
Cyclone Fani, the
strongest storm to
hit the Indian
subcontinent in the
last five years
barrelled into
Bangladesh after
leaving a trail of
destruction across
the eastern coast of
India.
- Wind speed was
85 km per hour.
- In Barguna,
fisheries worth Tk
1 million and crops
across 200 acres of
land were
inundated by the
storm surge, which
rose up to 11 feet.
- About 1.5 crore
people in 25
districts of the
country have been
without electricity
since the day before
the cyclone hit. It
will take 24 hours
for the situation to
return to normal.
The
Independent,
Bangladesh23
Dhaka
Tribune21
The
Independent,
Bangladesh23
The
Independent,
Bangladesh23
Bdnews24.co
m24
Dhaka
Tribune21
7. Timing and Monsoon Regulation
The tropical cyclones that influence South Asia are part of the regional monsoon wind system. The South
Asian monsoon has moist south-westerly winds blowing from the southern oceans over the South Asian
2609
I. Hossain and A. R. Mullick, 2020
International Medical Journal
continental land mass in summer, and dry north-easterly winds blowing in the opposite direction in winter.
The differential heating of land and sea drives this movement. In the summer, the land heats up more
quickly than the oceans, producing low pressure over land and high pressure at sea. Winds blow from high
to low pressure, bringing strong, moist winds from the oceans towards South Asia. During the winter
months, the differential heating and pressure systems are reversed, and strong dry north-easterly winds end
up blowing from South Asia towards the southern oceans. Most rainfall over the region comes in the
summer months (June to September) from relatively weak but frequent tropical lows and depressions.
Driven by monsoon winds, these systems eventually move over land along the west coast of India, but more
frequently affect the eastern coast of India and Bangladesh. The more intense tropical storms and Cyclones,
which also tend to form mainly in the Bay of Bengal, often occur as the wet summer changes to a dry winter
monsoon (October to November) when wind shear is low. Powerful cyclones, which tower up into the
atmosphere, do not easily form during the main monsoon season (June to September) because high wind
shear easily destabilises them, knocking them over1.
8. Cyclone Damage
The areas of South Asia most vulnerable to Cyclones are the low-lying coastal regions around the Bay of
Bengal (Bangladesh, Eastern India and Myanmar). These are the first areas storms hit when they reach land
and are also some of the most agriculturally fertile and densely populated areas in South Asia, including
coastal river deltas like the Godavari, Ganges and Irrawaddy. Cyclones' high wind speeds, intense rainfalls
and storm surges (unusually high sea levels) destroy life and property, and can leave areas devastated.
Winds, often travelling at more than 117 kilometres per hour, remove or seriously damage flimsy housing.
High intensity rainfall over a relatively short period (up to and above 50 centimetres over three to seven
days) can cause serious flooding and major crop loss. As with the less intense cyclones, such flooding can
increase loss of life and property if it causes reservoir collapses and landslides. But the most destructive part
of a cyclone is the storm surge at the front of the storm pushed up to high levels as it moves inland. Storm
surges from powerful Cyclones can reach two to five metres in height along the eastern coast of Andhra
Pradesh in India. At the head of the Bay of Bengal, where the coastline becomes restricted, storm surges can
reach a staggering 12 or 13 metres and kill many people1.
9. Vulnerable populations
The people most vulnerable to Cyclones around the world include those with limited economic resources,
low levels of technology, poor information and skills, minimal infrastructure and unstable or weak political
institutions. Such groups are not fully able to prepare for, or protect themselves from, Cyclones, nor to
respond and cope with their effects.
•
Low cast communities
•
Ethnic minorities
•
Women, especially those who may be widowed or deserted
•
Old men and women
•
Children, particularly girls
•
The disabled
•
People dependent on low incomes
•
People in debt
•
People isolated from transport, communication and health services infrastructure1.
10. Cyclone Disaster Prevention and Mitigation
Bangladesh has been subjected to frequent natural disasters in many forms, particularly cyclonic storms and
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ISSN: 13412051
Volume 25, Issue 06, June, 2020
storm surges. From 1582 to 2020, 88 major cyclone storms and storm surges have been reported (Table 03,
Figure: 01). These indicate that Bangladesh is prone to frequent destructive tropical cyclones associated
with storm surge, particularly in pre-monsoon months of April-May and post-monsoon months of October
November. The low-lying coastal areas are particularly vulnerable, thus placing these population,
infrastructure, agriculture, livestock and economic development in a high-risk situation. Cyclone disaster
mitigation is a major concern in Bangladesh25.
11. Before a Tropical Cyclone
•
Review family preparedness plan.
•
Establish a family communications plan.
•
Assemble a cyclone survival kit or review of cyclone supply list.
•
Have a family evacuation plan in place.
•
Secure property:
Cover windows. If storm shutters are unavailable, use 5/8-inch exterior-grade or marine plywood
cut to fit each window. Use screws to attach them.
Trim trees and shrubs around home so that they are more wind-resistant.
Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
Reinforce garage doors so wind doesn’t enter and cause structural damage.
Bring in outdoor objects (furniture, toys, tools, etc.), anchor objects that cannot be brought inside,
and remove outside antennas.
•
Know the difference between a cyclone watch and a cyclone warning:
•
Cyclone watch: Cyclone conditions are possible. Stay tuned to a National weather news on radio or
TV for information. Be prepared to evacuate if necessary.
•
Cyclone warning: Cyclone conditions are expected or occurring. Take shelter or evacuate
immediately.
12. During a Tropical Cyclone
•
Listen to weather news on radio or TV for updated information.
•
Be prepared to evacuate, and do so immediately if necessary.
•
Keep valuables and important documents in a waterproof container.
•
Turn off utilities if instructed to do so. Turn the refrigerator thermostat to its coldest setting, and
keep its doors closed.
•
If electricity is lost, turn off appliances to avoid power surge when electricity is restored.
•
Fill the bathtub and other large containers with water to ensure a supply for sanitary purposes.
•
Take refuge in a small interior room (closet/hallway/bathroom) on the lowest level and away from
windows and glass doors.
13. After a Tropical Cyclone
•
Continue listening to weather news on radio or TV for updated information.
•
Avoid damaged areas, stay off roads and remain on firm ground.
•
Avoid floodwaters. The water may be contaminated.
•
Return home only after local officials declare it is safe. Enter into home with extreme caution. Do
not enter if floodwaters remain.
•
Inspection of home:
Leave the house if you smell gas or chemical fumes.
Check for damage to walls, the foundation, the electrical system and water lines.
2611
I. Hossain and A. R. Mullick, 2020
International Medical Journal
Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches or other flammable liquids immediately.
•
Help injured or trapped people. Do not move seriously injured people unless they are in immediate
danger of death or further injury. Call for help.
•
Open windows and doors to help dry the house.
•
Check food supplies and drinking water. Anything that has come in contact with floodwater may be
contaminated and should be thrown out.
•
Clean and disinfect everything that got wet.
•
Watch out for snakes and other animals. Use a stick to poke through debris.
•
Avoid making phone calls except in serious emergencies26.
14. Conclusion
Developing countries with limited infra-structure and resources to cope with impact of cyclones should
receive particular attention of the international community in capacity building. Research and development
activities centering around cyclone mitigation including long term measures like afforestation should receive
priority attention of academic community in developing societies.
All these and related activities call for a higher level of investment in preparedness, shelter construction,
afforestation, institutional arrangement, policy formulation and community involvement for improved
cyclone disaster prevention for protecting coastal belt inhabitants form the severe effect of cyclonic disasters
and involving them in such process in Bangladesh and that of the region.
15. References
[1]
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https://www.scidev.net/global/disasters/feature/cyclones-in-the-indian-ocean-facts-and-figures.html
[2]
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[3]
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0
International License.
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