The biggest cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal in about two decades has slightly weakened before hitting the coasts of India and Bangladesh on Wednesday, with authorities making preparations to evacuate more than 5 million people to safer places. Cyclone Amphan, equivalent of a category 4 hurricane at present, is expected to have a sustained wind speed of 200 to 210 kilometers (124-130 miles) per hour, according to the India Meteorological Department. The speed may rise as high as 240 kilometers per hour, the weather office said.
Bangladesh is evacuating 2.2 million people from coastal districts, State Minister for Disaster Management Enamur Rahman said at a media briefing in Dhaka. The country plans to raise the danger signal to the maximum level at 6 a.m. Wednesday and it will be impossible to evacuate people after the “great danger signal” is announced, Rahman said.
The storm will be intense enough to damage crops, plantations, trees, mud houses and communication and electric poles, as well as disrupt road traffic and transportation of essential goods. Large boats and ships may get torn from their moorings, according to the meteorological department. The storm threatens lives of people and animals as the wind speed is likely to be as high as 185 kilometers per hour during its landfall.