1991 Bangladesh cyclone

The 1991 Bangladesh cyclone was one of the most deadliest tropical cyclones on record. The cyclone happened in 29th April, the cyclone struck Chittagong district of Bangladesh with winds around 250 km/h ( 155 mph ) 

A picture of the cyclone 

The storm forced a 6 metre ( 20 ft ) storm surge inland over a wide area .

Fatalities and Health crisis

* 138, 000 people were killed ( 25000 dead in Chittagong, 40000 dead in Banshkali and 8000 in Kutubdia )

* 10 million people were homeless

* Most death were from drowning

Even after building a cyclone shelter after the cyclone in 1970 Bhola cyclone, many only had a few hours of warning and did not know were to go. Even so, 2 million people did evacuate from the dangerous area.

Property Damage

The caused of the cyclone an estimated $1.5 billion ( 1991 US dollars )
The high velocity wind and the storm surge devastated coastline. The Karmaphuli River in Patenga was washed away by the storm surge.

Environmental impact 

The storm surge subsequently caused the embankment, as well as whole villages, to be swept away. For an additional three to four weeks after the storm had dissipated, mass land erosion resulted in more and more farmers losing their land, and therefore, the number of unemployed rose. In several ares up to 90 percent of crops had been washed away. The shrimp farms and salt industry were left devastated.

A few deadliest hurricanes

1) November 1970 - Approximately 150,000-500,000 deaths - Bhola Cyclone - Bangladesh (at the time East Pakistan).

2) April 1991 - Approx. 131,000-138,000 deaths - Bangladesh.

3) May and June 1965 (two cyclones) - Approx. 60,000 deaths - Bangladesh (at the time East Pakistan).

4) October 1942 - Approx. 40,000 deaths - Bangladesh/India border (at the time all India).

5) May 1963 - Approx. 22,000 deaths - Bangladesh (at the time East Pakistan).

6) November 1977 - Approx. 10,000-20,000 deaths - Andhra Pradesh Cyclone - India.

7) October-November 1998 - Approx. 11,000-18,000 deaths - Hurricane Mitch - Central America.

8) September 1971 - Approx. 10,000 deaths - Orissa Cyclone - India.

9) October 1999 - Approx. 10,000 deaths - Cyclone 05B - India.

10) September 1900 - Approx. 8,000-12,000 deaths - Galveston, Texas, United States.

Done by : Lam Hoc Sing  7 kappa