Evacuation team announces cyclone warning over loudspeaker. Photo: Ye htut
Residents in Maungtaw in northern Rakhine State are bracing for a tropical cyclone that has been predicted to cross the northern part of the state by 31 May.
The fire service department in Maungtaw issued a warning yesterday alerting residents of the possibility of the cyclone, which has formed in the Bay of Bengal, posing a danger to Bangladesh, Myanmar and perhaps parts of eastern India by Tuesday.
“Evacuation teams have been formed. Pamphlets on storm awareness have been delivered to the people,” said U Ye Lin Aung, Officer of the Maungtaw Township Fire Services Department.
Local authorities also held an emergency meeting yesterday to in order to prepare to quickly carry out a response to the possible disaster.
The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology announced yesterday that the depression over the central and southeast portion of the Bay of Bengal has further intensified into a deep depression and moved over East Central Bay of Bengal.
“It is forecast to intensify into a cyclonic storm over the next 24 hours,” said an official from the weather bureau.
The storm is centred about 260 miles southwest of Pathein, 310 miles southwest of Kyaukphyu, 325 miles southwest of Sittwe, 440 miles south-southwest of Chittagong (Bangladesh) and forecast to move toward northeast wards.
Due to this deep, major weather depression, widespread rain and thundershowers are predicted for the Nay Pyi Taw, Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, Bago, Yangon, Ayeyawady, Taninthayi regions, and the Kachin, Chin, Rakhine, Kayin and Mon states over the next 72 hours, weather department officials said. Scattered rain or thundershowers are predicted for the remaining regions and states with isolated heavy precipitation and strong wind.
Occasional squalls with rough seas will be experienced off and along the Myanmar coasts, officials said. Surface wind speed in squalls may reach 40 mph.
In addition to the strong wind and heavy rainfall, flash floods and landslides may also occur over the next three days. An advisory for people living in low-lying areas, and near small rivers and streams has been issued to take precautions against landslides and flooding. Those who will be travelling in planes, trawlers, vessels and ships off and along the Myanmar coasts are advised to take notice of the effects of the deep depression and take necessary precautions. — Min Thit(MNA)