Vulnerability of Tropical Cyclones in the Coastal Areas: Review from

the Perspectives of Cyclone Amphan in Bangladesh.

1. Introduction
Over the years there have been many cyclones in Bangladesh that have affected millions of people. The
deadliest cyclone of Bangladesh, Bhola Cyclone, occured in the year 1970 which alone claimed the lives
of 300,000 to 500,000 people approximately. Some of the more recent tropical cyclones are Cyclone
Komen (29 July 2015), Cyclone Mora (29–31 May 2017), Cyclone Fani(4 May 2019), Cyclone Bulbul (9
November 2019) and the most recent one Cyclone Amphan (20 May 2020).

2. Formation of Cyclone Amphan

Super Cyclone Amphan was a powerful and catastrophic tropical cyclone that caused widespread
damage in Eastern India, specifically West Bengal, Odisha and in Bangladesh in May 2020. It was the first
super cyclone to form in the Bay of Bengal since 1999 and also the strongest to hit the Ganges Delta. This
cyclone caused about $ 13 billion worth of damages making it the costliest tropical cyclone in the North
Indian Ocean.

Amphan originated from a low-pressure area persisting a couple hundred miles east of Colombo, Sri
Lanka, on 13 May 2020. It formed on 16 May 2020 over the Indian Ocean and started moving north over
the Bay of Bengal, towards north-east India coastal areas and south of Bangladesh. On 17 May, Amphan
intensified very quickly and became an extremely vicious cyclone within 12 hours.

On May 18, the cyclone reached its highest intensity with sustained wind speeds of 240 km/h to 260
km/h. Shortly after that, the cyclone started to weaken as it came closer to the eastern coastlone of
India as a result of effects of dry air and wind shear. On May 20, the cyclone reached the lands in West
Bengal and severly weakned after it made contact with land. However, once it reached land it cost
millions of dollars in damages to Bangladesh.
 Figure: Tracking Cyclone Amphan.

3.Impacted areas by Cyclone Amphan

Cyclone Amphan had weakened from a super cyclone to an extremely severe cyclonic storm between
the 20th and the 21st May 2020, causing strong winds and heavy rain in parts of Odisha, West Bengal in
India and Bangladesh coastal areas as it advanced towards the India-Bangladesh coast. On 20 May 2020,
it slammed into the coastal districts of West Bengal, India and then it entered Bangladesh at evening
with wind speed of 150kmph and drove its destruction among 26 districts across the country.The
Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) issued great danger-2 , signal number 10 for costal
districts of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhalokathi, Pirojpur, Borguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barisal, Laxmipur,
Chandpur and their off-shore islands and chars. According to different sources, Cyclone Amphan affected
more than a million people in nine districts in Khulna and Barishal divisions of Bangladesh. Overall, 76
upazilas in 19 districts were affected where 8 districts were recognized having severe to moderate
impact.

4. Impacts on Socio-economic status and health

Cyclone Amphan affected millions of people's livlihood. People lost their homes, agricultural lands and
forests were destroyed throughout the zones severly affected by the super cyclone. People had leave
their homes and take shelter in evacuation centres. As there were not as many evacuation centres as
required, the centres were severly crowded. The situation was much more worsened due to the COVID-
19 outbreak. There was a shortage of food and medicines so people became sick. As the seawater
flooded the freshwaters sources, there was a shortage of safe drinking water. Also different types of
waterborne diseases spread. People had no proper access to sanitary facilites as latrines submerged
underwater. This Cyclone not affected their physical health but also their mental health. Losing your
home, your loved ones, your source of income has a big impact on your mental health.These people had
to go through a lot of emotional trauma.

Figure: Woman salvaging items from her destroyed home.

 Figure: Overcrowded evacuation centres.

5. Early warning and evacuation in the vulnerable areas

Bangladesh goverment knew Cyclone Amphan was going to hit the coastal districts so they took
necessary precautions for the incoming disaster. The goverment prepared around evacuation centres
around the coastal districts so people could take shelter from the super cyclone. However, the numbers
of shelter centres were not nearly enough for the huge population that had to leave their homes and
were severely overcrowded. As per government record, more than 2.4 million people were evacuated,
with the help of CPP, BDRCS, Fire Service and Civil Defense (FSCD), Police, Armed Forces, and other
organizations, to 14,636 permanent and temporary shelters in 19 coastal districts before the cyclone hit
the country's coast. During the cyclone amphan there were very few casualties compared to that of the
previous cyclones in our country like cyclone bhora or sidr. This shows the goverment has improved their
capability to withstand natural disasters.
 Figure: People being evacuated fromt their homes

6. The Aftermath of Cyclone Amphan

The super Cyclone Ampphan left a trail of destruction on its path. The following are some of the horrible
impacts on Bangladesh and its people :

• More than 2.4 million people were evacuated fromt their homes.

• 26 people were killed.

• More than 2,00,000 houses were destroyed.

• Approximately 150,000 hectares of agriculture lands and fish farms worth about BDT 3.25 billions were
damaged due to salinity intrusion.

• Millions of livestock were killed.

• Millions of trees were uprooted.

• 200 bridges and culverts and 100km of roads were damaged.

• About 15 million people lost electricity.

• Many freshwater ponds were flooded with seawater.

• Approximately 18,000 water points and 41,000 latrines were destroyed in most impacted districts.

• Waterborne diseases spread and Covid-19 cases surged rapidly in the coastal areas due to
overcrowding in the evacuation centres.
• Flooded streets and villages.

• Heavy rainfall for several days.

Figure: Destructions caused by the super cyclone amphan.

7. Conclusion
Bangladesh is vulnerable to natural calamaties due to its unfavourable geographic location. Every year it
faces the threat of some form of natural disaster. Due to global warming this situation is not getting any
better. We, the people have to become more cautious and educated about climate change. The
goverment has to take necessary steps to ensure the protection of the people from such natural
disasters and educate them about the dangers of climate change. In essence, it is impossible to stop a
natural disaster but the people and the goverment can minimise the damages by taking care of the
envirnonment.

Reference
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