Both local and international meteorological organisations have declared that Cyclone Mocha have damaging effects on over 2 million in Myanmar.
Mocha, forming off the Bay of Bengal, was given Red category status by the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS) on May 11th.
Local media have reported that evacuations, whether by a government mandate or otherwise, are underway in areas expected to be adversely affected, such as Rakhine State’s Kyauk Phyu and Sittwe.
Nearly a million in Rakhine State, over 170 thousand in Magway Region and over 440 thousand in Sagaing State will be affected, said the GDACS.
Other states will also see strong winds and heavy rain, including Chin State, the Ayeyawady and Yangon Regions.
Myanmar’s meteorological department estimates that the full force of Cyclone Mocha will hit Rakhine’s Kyauk Phyu and Bangladesh’s Cox Bazaar on May 14th.
Winds are expected to be even stronger in the worst-hit areas, since local experts report that even in fringe affected areas, the winds will reach 160kph.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Centre and India’s Meteorological Department estimates that, when making landfall, sustained wind speeds will be at 175-185kph.
Even now, Myanmar’s economic hub of Yangon is seeing sudden heavy rainfalls, causing more traffic jams and flooding of roads, as Yangon is prone to do during the monsoon season.
Shan State’s Kalaw Township also saw 72 workers’ huts completely submerged, as sudden heavy rainfall caused creeks and streams to overflow.
