As many as 13 major tropical cyclones hit Bangladesh over the past five decades.
Till 2017, these storms have so far killed as many as 479,490 people, according to a 2016 cyclone preparedness plan of the Ministry of Disaster Management.
Cyclones always come with storm surges causing the heavy casualties. Records of the last 200 years show that at least 70 major cyclones have hit the coastal belt region of our country. The cyclones claimed the lives of thousands of people and destroyed nature and properties.
Here are some of the severe tropical cyclones that hit Bangladesh since 1965.
May 30, 2016 ‘Mora'
Tropical Cyclone Mora hit the coastal area killing as many as nine people and affecting an estimated 3.3 million people along with over 300,000 Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar. The storm also made landfall in Chittagong division.
May 21, 2016 ‘Roanu’
Cyclone Roanu made landfall near Chittagong killing 26 people. Around 40,000 houses were damaged in the storm.
May 16, 2013 ‘Mahasen’
Cyclone Mahasen hit near Chittagong with a wind speed of 85 km per hour. It caused death of 17 people.
May 25, 2009 ‘Aila’
Cyclone Aila hit offshore 15 districts of southwestern part of Bangladesh with wind speed of 120 km per hour. About 150 persons were killed and 200,000 houses were damaged in the storm.
Nov 15, 2007 ‘Sidr’
Cyclone Sidr hit the country’s coastal belt with a wind speed of 223 km per hour that claimed the lives of 3,363 people.
May 19, 1997
A cyclone with a wind speed of about 230 km per hour lashed the coastal line on May 19, 1997 killing 155 people.
April 19, 1991
A powerful tropical cyclone struck the Chittagong district of southeastern Bangladesh on Apr 29, 1991. At least 138,000 people were killed by the cyclone. It caused a damage of around $1.5 billion.
Nov 30, 1988 ‘Cyclone 04B’
A severe cyclonic storm struck the coastal areas with a wind speed of 162 km per hour accompanied by a storm surge of 4.5 metre. At least 5,708 people died in the storm.
May 25, 1985
A severe cyclone hit the country with a wind speed of 154 km per hour and 3.0-4.6 metre storm surges. At least 11,069 people were killed and 94,379 houses were damaged.
Nov 11, 1970
The cyclone claimed the lives of at least 300,000 people in the low-lying region near the Bangladesh coast. This is the deadliest known tropical cyclone in the history of Bangladesh.
Oct 1, 1966
The cyclone hit the coastal area on Oct 1, 1966 with a wind speed of about 139 km per hour associated with storm surges of 6-7 metre. About 850 people died in the cyclone.
Dec 15, 1965
A cyclone hit the country on December 15, 1965 with a wind speed of about 217 km per hour and 2.3-3.6 metre storm surges. It claimed the lives of 873 people.
May 11, 1965
At least 19,279 people were killed in a cyclone that hit the coastal areas. Out of the casualties, 16,456 were in Barisal. The cyclone hit with a wind speed of about 160 km per hour associated with storm surge of 3.7-7.6 metre.