Photos show 2.6 million people fleeing after a cyclone stormed through India and Bangladesh in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic
AP Photo
- More than 2.6 million people had to be evacuated from India and Bangladesh after a cyclone ravaged the coasts of both countries, The Associated Press reported.
- The cyclone impacted some of the most vulnerable communities including Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
- The devastation comes as both countries are still under lockdown and trying to control their coronavirus outbreaks.
- At least seven people have died, but the complete toll of the devastation is not apparent yet.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
A powerful cyclone made its way onto mainland India and Bangladesh after more than 2.6 million people frantically fled to shelters on Wednesday, The Associated Press reported.
The cyclone, dubbed "Amphan," was equal to a category 3 hurricane. Business Insider previously reported that the cyclone was "carrying extremely heavy rains and wind speeds that could reach up to around 105 miles per hour when it hits the land."
According to The New York Times, authorities are waiting until Thursday to get a clearer idea of the amount of devastation from the cyclone.
"The next 24 hours are very crucial," Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, India's chief meteorologist told the AP. "This is a long haul."
While the storm was expected to be weaker as it made its way towards Bangladesh, "authorities warned of extensive damage to flimsy houses and storm surges pushing seawater" around 15 miles inland. Cities including Kolkata were flooded.
Additionally, the storm left many areas without electricity or phone service and wiped away bridges between India's islands and it's mainland.
The cyclone came at a time when India was anticipating its peak of coronavirus cases.
AP Photo
"We are facing three crises: the coronavirus, the thousands of migrants who are returning home and now the cyclone," Banerjee, who is an opposition leader and one of the fiercest critics of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said according to the AP.
Source: AP, Business Insider
Both India and Bangladesh are still under coronavirus lockdown.
AP Photo
According to The Times, many of the people living along the swampy coasts of both countries were worried about going into crowded shelters and risking coronavirus infection.
India had been turning emergency shelters into COVID-19 quarantine centers, before the cyclone.
AP Photo
India has reported more than 100,000 coronavirus infections. According to The Times, because, the country repurposed their emergency shelters, they had few left when the cyclone hit.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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