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Amphan made landfall on Wednesday in the densely populated Indian state of West Bengal. Wind gusts of up to 185 kilometers per hour were reported and waves of meters high were seen. According to local authorities, at least ten people have died in the state and the damage is enormous. The worst affected areas, according to a high state official, are difficult to reach because of the severe weather.
In the metropolis of Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, trees and electricity poles fell over due to the strong wind. Power went out in parts of the city. In Bangladesh, at least five people were killed by Amphan. It is estimated that three million people are without electricity in the country.
People save what can be saved in Midnapore in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Ⓒ AFP
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Himalayas
The storm is declining as it moves inland, the Indian national weather service reported Thursday. Amphan is expected to travel to the Himalayas via Bangladesh for the next two days and will result in heavy rainfall. There can be 200 millimeters of rain in Bangladesh and 300 to 400 millimeters in eastern India. The risk of flooding remains high.
The evacuations have been complicated by the corona crisis in both India and Bangladesh. “It is a challenge to evacuate people while keeping everyone at a safe distance,” said Deputy Minister Enamur Rahman, who is responsible for disaster relief in Bangladesh. He stated that the number of reception centers is much higher than usual. This is to ensure that it is not too busy there.
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A collapsed roof on a car in Satkhira, Bangladesh.
Ⓒ AFP
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Half a million evacuations
In India, where around 500,000 people have been evacuated, some shelters were already in use as quarantine centers due to the pandemic. Therefore, people fleeing from the super cyclone are also accommodated in other buildings. The authorities provide mouth masks to evacuees.
A cyclist looks at the damage after the tropical storm on Thursday in South Asia.
Ⓒ AFP
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