The 2013 North Indian Ocean cyclone season has already started. Tropical cyclone Mahasen originating in the southeast Bay of Bengal is a potential major threat to Bangladesh and Myanmar. Cyclone Mahasen trajectory, updates follows below.
You can also follow latest updates and discuss about this Cyclone @ Facebook (Disaster Report), Twitter (Disaster_Update) and Google +(Disaster Report)
Update 16:05 UTC
-Death toll has further risen to 9. Five fatalities are from Barguna alone. Other four are from Bhola and Patuakhali region of Bangladesh.
-Bangladeshi police has recovered 22 bodies, including 14 children of Myanmar citizen along the Teknaf coast of the Bay of Bengal. They are supposed to be the Myanmar residents who were missing after a boat carrying about 200 ethnic Rohingya Muslims capsized off Myanmar’s western state of Rakhine some days ago.
-About 238 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in Khepupara, Bangladesh based bdnews24 reports. Cyclone Mahasen crossed Patuakhali’s Khepupara around 9:00am. In capital Dhaka, 45 millimetres of rainfall was recorded by Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
-The operations at the Shah Amanat International Airport and Chittagong seaport in Bangladesh resumed today afternoon.
Update 12:00 UTC
-At least four reported dead in Bangladesh. Fatalities are from Barguna, Bhola and Patuakhali.
-Storm injured 200 others. About 2000 houses were destroyed by the cyclone from 6 to 7:30 am, Bangladesh based bdnews24 reports.
-Bangladesh Meteorological Department has lowered the danger level to ‘3’. Signal no. 3 currently remains active for Maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar & Mongla.
Update 06:30 UTC
-Cyclone ‘Mahasen’ hit Patuakhali coast of Bangladesh with wind speed up to 90 kilometres per hour.
-Following Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the outer periphery of cyclone Mahasen hit Patuakhali’s Khepupara around 9:00am in the morning.
-One killed in Dhaligournagar area in Bhola, Bangladesh.
-Storm damaged at least 12 huts in Dhalchar area.
Update 2013/05/16; 04:45 UTC
-According to the weather bulletin issued by Myanmar Meteorology Department at 09:30 M.S.T today, Mahasen was located 120 miles West of Maungdaw and 130 miles Southwest of Chittagong (Bangladesh).
-Storm is forecast to cross between Chittagong (Bangladesh) and Maungdaw (Myanmar) today afternoon.
Update 23:45 UTC
-Storm travelled 175 kilometres in nine hours today.
-Storm is causing light rainfalls in Cox’s Bazar, Patuakhali and other coastal areas in Bangladesh.
-All factories at the Chittagong Export Processing Zone (EPZ) are already closed.
Update 14:45 UTC
-Latest special weather bulletin by Bangladesh Meteorology Department reports Mahasen located about 700 kilometres southwest of Chittagong port, 640 kilometres southwest of Cox’s Bazar port and 575 kilometres south southwest of Mongla port.
-Around 49,365 volunteers are working in vulnerable coastal areas of Bangladesh. About 3,770 emergency shelters have been established.
-Myanmar Meteorology has coded Mahasen as Red emergency color.
-Storm is expected to hit north of Chittagong tomorrow.
Update 09:55 UTC
-Bangladeshi Government has opened two control rooms for Communications. Center will look the road communication system, Banglanews 24 reports.
-A control room has been set up at building-7 of the secretariat. Contact. 02-9555323.
Another control room in head office of the Roads and Highway department. Contact: 02-9551343 and 02-9584829.
Update 08:40 UTC
-Around 15,000 people are requested to vacate their houses in the Cox’s Bazar. Cox’s Bazar is currently under DANGER SIGNAL No. 7.
-Around 534 emergency shelters have been made.
-Below is the observed track of cyclone Mahasen by Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
Update 08:15 UTC
-Chittagong port and Cox’s Bazar airport have been closed.
-Chittagong’s Shah Amanat International Airport will also be closed at 4.00 pm.
-According to UN, Mahasen could effect about 8.2 million people in northeast India, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Update 08:00 UTC
Danger signal `7`: Coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Bhola, Borguna, Patuakhali, Barisal and their offshore islands.
Danger signal `5': Maritime port of Mongla and coastal districts of Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands
-At the 9:00am bulletin, ‘Mahasen’ was located about 875 kilometres southwest of Chittagong port, 815 kilometres southwest of Cox’s Bazar port and 760 kilometres south southwest of Monagla port.
Update 06:05 UTC
-Bangladesh Meteorology department has issued DANGER SIGNAL No. 7 for Chittagong, Cox's Bazar & DANGER SIGNAL NO 5 FOR Mongla ports.
-Mahasen is currently located 370 miles southwest of Maungdaw (Myanmar)and 360 miles south of Kolkata (India).
Update 2013/05/15; 02:00 UTC
-Cyclonic Storm Mahasen is currently located about 420 miles southwest of Maungdaw (Myanmar), and 410 miles southwest of Kolkata (India).
-Following Myanmar meteorology department, thundershower is expected in Sagaing, Mandalay and Magway Regions, Chin and Rakhine States.
-Mahasen is heading towards northern Rakhine (Myanmar) and Bangladesh Coasts.
-Bangladesh Meteorology department has issued local warning signal no. 4 for Chittagong, Cox's Bazar & Mongla ports.
Below is Tropical Cyclone Mahasen Tracking Map (Weather Underground).
Update 15:45 UTC
-Death toll from flooding in Sri Lanka has risen to 7.
-Following Sri Lankan Disaster Management Centre, still two people have been missing.
Update 10:15 UTC
-A boat carrying about 200 Rohingya Muslims has capsized off western Myanmar, Aljazeera says quoting UN officials.
-The victims in the boat were escaping Cyclone Mahasen which is expected on Thursday and Friday but struck rocks off the Pauktaw township in Rakhine State and sank. Click for detail report on this disaster.
Update 09:00 UTC
-Flooding caused by the cyclone Mahasen in Sri Lanka has killed two and injured eight others.
-Sri Lanka Meteorology Department has decided not to use the name “Mahasen” any longer for this cyclone. However the officials didn't give any reason behind it. The storm named "Mahasen" is after an ancient Sri Lankan king. Click for detail report on this nameless cyclone.
Update 04:00 UTC
Cyclone Mahasen updates from Bangladesh
-According to District Disaster Management Committee, some 1,100 cyclone-shelter centres have been made in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
-About 113 emergency medical teams are kept ready in case of any emergency.
-The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has cancelled the leave of its officials in coastal ares including ox’s Bazar, Barisal, Barguna and Bagerhat.
-People are advised to call in case of emergency at 8818736, 9855933, 01759114488.
Update 2013/05/14; 02:00 UTC
-According to Myanmar Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, cyclone Mahasen is currently located (at 05:30 a.m) about 470 miles southwest of Coco-Island, 595 miles southwest of Kyaukphyu (Myanmar) and 290 miles southeast of Vishakhapatnam (India).
-Mahasen is likely to cross between Northern Rakhine (Myanmar)and Bangladesh Coasts on evening of 16th May, 2013. It is currently not moving towards Myanmar coasts.
Update 14:00 UTC
-Eight killed and four others injured due to heavy rainfall caused by cyclone Mahasen in Andhra Pradesh, India.
-Fatalities are from Guntur, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram of the coastal area of Andhra Pradesh.
-Moderate rainfall is expected in coastal areas of Orissa and West Bengal and Kolkata after the next 48 hours.
-Following The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS), up to 5.2 million people can be affected by wind speeds of cyclone strength or above.
Update 08:00 UTC
-Portion of ceiling has fallen down in Chennai Airport, India. Minor injuries reported to three workers, NDTV India says.
-A Chandigarh-bound Jet Airways flight has been cancelled.
Update 2013/05/13; 03:00 UTC
Cyclone Mahasen update by Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (Myanmar) below:
The Cyclonic Storm (MAHASEN) over Southeast Bay is centered at about 430 miles southwest of Coco-Island, 570 miles southwest of Pathein, Myanmar and 380 miles southeast of Chennai, India.
The present stage of the Cyclonic Storm is coded yellow stage.
Cyclone Mahasen is predicted to cross between Northern Rakhine (Myanmar)and Bangladesh Coasts on evening of 16th may, 2013.
Following Bangladesh Meteorological Department, Mahasen is likely to intensify further and move in a northwesterly direction.
Following special weather bulletin issued by Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) at 12pm on Sunday, Tropical Cyclone Mahasen was located about 1, 455 km south-southwest of Chittagong seaport and some 242 km southeast of capital Dhaka.
Cautionary danger signal “3” has been issued for Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Mongla.
Meanwhile Myanmar has also begun moving people into emergency shelters. Meteorologist expects that cyclone Mahasen in Myanmar would affect 140,000 refugees living in the tent houses.
Myanmar's Meteorology and Hydrology Department has forecast heavy rainfall with possible landslides in Magway, Sagaing and Mandalay.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) of the US Navy and US Air Force has estimated that winds could reach up to 166 kilometres per hour at the time of the landfall of 'Mahasen'. Cyclone Mahasen is expected to sweep through the Rakhine province of Myanmar and adjacent coastal areas of Bangladesh by Tuesday afternoon.
‘Mahasen’ is named by ESCAP typhoon committee after a King who ruled in Sri Lanka from 277 to 304 AD.
Below is five day forecast map for Tropical Cyclone Mahasen (weather underground)
Original post: Natural Disasters List May 12, 2013
You can also follow latest updates and discuss about this Cyclone @ Facebook (Disaster Report), Twitter (Disaster_Update) and Google +(Disaster Report)
Update 16:05 UTC
-Death toll has further risen to 9. Five fatalities are from Barguna alone. Other four are from Bhola and Patuakhali region of Bangladesh.
-Bangladeshi police has recovered 22 bodies, including 14 children of Myanmar citizen along the Teknaf coast of the Bay of Bengal. They are supposed to be the Myanmar residents who were missing after a boat carrying about 200 ethnic Rohingya Muslims capsized off Myanmar’s western state of Rakhine some days ago.
-About 238 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in Khepupara, Bangladesh based bdnews24 reports. Cyclone Mahasen crossed Patuakhali’s Khepupara around 9:00am. In capital Dhaka, 45 millimetres of rainfall was recorded by Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
-The operations at the Shah Amanat International Airport and Chittagong seaport in Bangladesh resumed today afternoon.
Update 12:00 UTC
-At least four reported dead in Bangladesh. Fatalities are from Barguna, Bhola and Patuakhali.
-Storm injured 200 others. About 2000 houses were destroyed by the cyclone from 6 to 7:30 am, Bangladesh based bdnews24 reports.
-Bangladesh Meteorological Department has lowered the danger level to ‘3’. Signal no. 3 currently remains active for Maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar & Mongla.
Update 06:30 UTC
-Cyclone ‘Mahasen’ hit Patuakhali coast of Bangladesh with wind speed up to 90 kilometres per hour.
-Following Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the outer periphery of cyclone Mahasen hit Patuakhali’s Khepupara around 9:00am in the morning.
-One killed in Dhaligournagar area in Bhola, Bangladesh.
-Storm damaged at least 12 huts in Dhalchar area.
Update 2013/05/16; 04:45 UTC
-According to the weather bulletin issued by Myanmar Meteorology Department at 09:30 M.S.T today, Mahasen was located 120 miles West of Maungdaw and 130 miles Southwest of Chittagong (Bangladesh).
-Storm is forecast to cross between Chittagong (Bangladesh) and Maungdaw (Myanmar) today afternoon.
Update 23:45 UTC
-Storm travelled 175 kilometres in nine hours today.
-Storm is causing light rainfalls in Cox’s Bazar, Patuakhali and other coastal areas in Bangladesh.
-All factories at the Chittagong Export Processing Zone (EPZ) are already closed.
Update 14:45 UTC
-Latest special weather bulletin by Bangladesh Meteorology Department reports Mahasen located about 700 kilometres southwest of Chittagong port, 640 kilometres southwest of Cox’s Bazar port and 575 kilometres south southwest of Mongla port.
-Around 49,365 volunteers are working in vulnerable coastal areas of Bangladesh. About 3,770 emergency shelters have been established.
-Myanmar Meteorology has coded Mahasen as Red emergency color.
-Storm is expected to hit north of Chittagong tomorrow.
Update 09:55 UTC
-Bangladeshi Government has opened two control rooms for Communications. Center will look the road communication system, Banglanews 24 reports.
-A control room has been set up at building-7 of the secretariat. Contact. 02-9555323.
Another control room in head office of the Roads and Highway department. Contact: 02-9551343 and 02-9584829.
Update 08:40 UTC
-Around 15,000 people are requested to vacate their houses in the Cox’s Bazar. Cox’s Bazar is currently under DANGER SIGNAL No. 7.
-Around 534 emergency shelters have been made.
-Below is the observed track of cyclone Mahasen by Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
Update 08:15 UTC
-Chittagong port and Cox’s Bazar airport have been closed.
-Chittagong’s Shah Amanat International Airport will also be closed at 4.00 pm.
-According to UN, Mahasen could effect about 8.2 million people in northeast India, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Update 08:00 UTC
Danger signal `7`: Coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Bhola, Borguna, Patuakhali, Barisal and their offshore islands.
Danger signal `5': Maritime port of Mongla and coastal districts of Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands
-At the 9:00am bulletin, ‘Mahasen’ was located about 875 kilometres southwest of Chittagong port, 815 kilometres southwest of Cox’s Bazar port and 760 kilometres south southwest of Monagla port.
Update 06:05 UTC
-Bangladesh Meteorology department has issued DANGER SIGNAL No. 7 for Chittagong, Cox's Bazar & DANGER SIGNAL NO 5 FOR Mongla ports.
-Mahasen is currently located 370 miles southwest of Maungdaw (Myanmar)and 360 miles south of Kolkata (India).
Update 2013/05/15; 02:00 UTC
-Cyclonic Storm Mahasen is currently located about 420 miles southwest of Maungdaw (Myanmar), and 410 miles southwest of Kolkata (India).
-Following Myanmar meteorology department, thundershower is expected in Sagaing, Mandalay and Magway Regions, Chin and Rakhine States.
-Mahasen is heading towards northern Rakhine (Myanmar) and Bangladesh Coasts.
-Bangladesh Meteorology department has issued local warning signal no. 4 for Chittagong, Cox's Bazar & Mongla ports.
Below is Tropical Cyclone Mahasen Tracking Map (Weather Underground).
Update 15:45 UTC
-Death toll from flooding in Sri Lanka has risen to 7.
-Following Sri Lankan Disaster Management Centre, still two people have been missing.
Update 10:15 UTC
-A boat carrying about 200 Rohingya Muslims has capsized off western Myanmar, Aljazeera says quoting UN officials.
-The victims in the boat were escaping Cyclone Mahasen which is expected on Thursday and Friday but struck rocks off the Pauktaw township in Rakhine State and sank. Click for detail report on this disaster.
Update 09:00 UTC
-Flooding caused by the cyclone Mahasen in Sri Lanka has killed two and injured eight others.
-Sri Lanka Meteorology Department has decided not to use the name “Mahasen” any longer for this cyclone. However the officials didn't give any reason behind it. The storm named "Mahasen" is after an ancient Sri Lankan king. Click for detail report on this nameless cyclone.
Update 04:00 UTC
Cyclone Mahasen updates from Bangladesh
-According to District Disaster Management Committee, some 1,100 cyclone-shelter centres have been made in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
-About 113 emergency medical teams are kept ready in case of any emergency.
-The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has cancelled the leave of its officials in coastal ares including ox’s Bazar, Barisal, Barguna and Bagerhat.
-People are advised to call in case of emergency at 8818736, 9855933, 01759114488.
Update 2013/05/14; 02:00 UTC
-According to Myanmar Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, cyclone Mahasen is currently located (at 05:30 a.m) about 470 miles southwest of Coco-Island, 595 miles southwest of Kyaukphyu (Myanmar) and 290 miles southeast of Vishakhapatnam (India).
-Mahasen is likely to cross between Northern Rakhine (Myanmar)and Bangladesh Coasts on evening of 16th May, 2013. It is currently not moving towards Myanmar coasts.
Update 14:00 UTC
-Eight killed and four others injured due to heavy rainfall caused by cyclone Mahasen in Andhra Pradesh, India.
-Fatalities are from Guntur, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram of the coastal area of Andhra Pradesh.
-Moderate rainfall is expected in coastal areas of Orissa and West Bengal and Kolkata after the next 48 hours.
-Following The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS), up to 5.2 million people can be affected by wind speeds of cyclone strength or above.
Update 08:00 UTC
-Portion of ceiling has fallen down in Chennai Airport, India. Minor injuries reported to three workers, NDTV India says.
-A Chandigarh-bound Jet Airways flight has been cancelled.
Update 2013/05/13; 03:00 UTC
Cyclone Mahasen update by Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (Myanmar) below:
The Cyclonic Storm (MAHASEN) over Southeast Bay is centered at about 430 miles southwest of Coco-Island, 570 miles southwest of Pathein, Myanmar and 380 miles southeast of Chennai, India.
The present stage of the Cyclonic Storm is coded yellow stage.
Cyclone Mahasen is predicted to cross between Northern Rakhine (Myanmar)and Bangladesh Coasts on evening of 16th may, 2013.
Following Bangladesh Meteorological Department, Mahasen is likely to intensify further and move in a northwesterly direction.
Following special weather bulletin issued by Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) at 12pm on Sunday, Tropical Cyclone Mahasen was located about 1, 455 km south-southwest of Chittagong seaport and some 242 km southeast of capital Dhaka.
Cautionary danger signal “3” has been issued for Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Mongla.
Meanwhile Myanmar has also begun moving people into emergency shelters. Meteorologist expects that cyclone Mahasen in Myanmar would affect 140,000 refugees living in the tent houses.
Myanmar's Meteorology and Hydrology Department has forecast heavy rainfall with possible landslides in Magway, Sagaing and Mandalay.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) of the US Navy and US Air Force has estimated that winds could reach up to 166 kilometres per hour at the time of the landfall of 'Mahasen'. Cyclone Mahasen is expected to sweep through the Rakhine province of Myanmar and adjacent coastal areas of Bangladesh by Tuesday afternoon.
‘Mahasen’ is named by ESCAP typhoon committee after a King who ruled in Sri Lanka from 277 to 304 AD.
Below is five day forecast map for Tropical Cyclone Mahasen (weather underground)
Original post: Natural Disasters List May 12, 2013