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Bangladesh
Mon Jul 18, 2005
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The tsunami tragedy of December, 2004, across the Indian Ocean basin, brought our attention to an area of the globe where natural disasters often bring unimaginable death tolls. Hi, I’m Bryan Yeaton, and this is The Weather Notebook.
Cyclones, the name given hurricane-like storms in the northern Indian Ocean, generally move north toward the Asian continent into the Bay of Bengal.
At the bay’s northern extreme lies the nation of Bangladesh. Occupying the delta at the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna Rivers, Bangladesh is very low, mostly less than 100 feet above sea level. Family farms cover the densely populated delta.
Bangladesh’s low elevation and 440 miles of coastline make the country extremely susceptible to the destructive effects of cyclones, their storm surges and flooding.
Between 1980 and 2000, about 60 percent of all tropical cyclone deaths worldwide occurred in Bangladesh. Since 1970, over a million people have died from Bay of Bengal storms.
Bengal cyclones typically boast 90 mph winds, with surges 15 feet above normal tides. The greatest destruction results when the surge arrives at high tide — washing away people, houses, crops, and cattle.
That was the case on November 12, 1970 when a cyclone battered the Chittagong coast with 140-mph winds and a 30-ft surge. The storm, surge and resulting flooding took between 300,000 and 500,000 lives.
However, this was not the last big killer in Bangladesh. In May, 1985, at least 4,000 were swept away. And in April 1991 storm and surge drowned over 140,000 and destroyed millions of homes and livestock.
In the last decade, thousands of cyclone shelters have been built, dramatically reducing the death toll of recent storms, but many more structures are needed.
Thanks to our contributing writer, meteorologist Keith Heidorn. The Weather Notebook is funded by Subaru of America. We are a program of the Mount Washington Observatory.
Today's Links
Tropical Cyclone in Bangladesh
http://nirapad.org/care_nirapad/Home/Magazine/html/4th%20Issue%20September%202001/html/news1.html
Bangladesh Most Vulnerable to Tropical Cyclone Deaths
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_6-2-2004_pg7_45
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