The first cyclone storm of the year, “Leamarl,” made landfall on Sunday night (26th) and attacked Bangladesh and India, resulting in at least 26 deaths and millions of people losing power.
According to Reuters, the cyclone storm “Leamarl” reached speeds of up to 135 kilometers per hour and landed around 9 p.m. on May 26 in Mongla port in southern Bangladesh and the surrounding areas of the Sagar Islands in West Bengal, India.
Liakath Ali, a climate expert from Bangladesh, stated that strong winds continued into the late night of the 26th, causing many rivers to rise and drainage systems to be overwhelmed.
Ali mentioned in a statement, “Many are trapped – it will be a long night ahead, with millions losing power or their homes.”
Mijanur Rahman, head of Bangladesh’s disaster management department, told Reuters that at least 10 people nationwide lost their lives in the storm.
“Some disaster victims died on their way to shelters, some died due to collapsed houses or walls, and others drowned in the storm,” said Rahman.
“People are often reluctant to leave their livestock and homes for cyclone shelters,” he said. “They wait until the last moment, but often it’s too late.”
Rahman mentioned that the cyclone destroyed nearly 35,000 homes in 19 regions and partially damaged another 115,000 homes.
“Many areas are still experiencing flooding, with fish ponds and trees destroyed,” he said. “As more information becomes available, the full impact of the storm will become clearer.”
Sheldon Yett, the UNICEF representative in Bangladesh, stated that over 8.4 million people, including 3.2 million children, are facing high risks in terms of health, nutrition, hygiene, and safety.
In West Bengal, India, authorities reported four deaths due to electrocution, bringing the death toll in the state to six.
Furthermore, in the Aizawl region of Mizoram, India, a quarry collapsed in heavy rain influenced by the cyclone, resulting in 10 deaths and several people missing. Authorities fear the death toll might increase.
Officials from Bangladesh’s Power Division indicated that to prevent accidents, power supply in certain areas was shut down in advance. However, in many coastal towns, power outages worsened due to fallen trees and electric poles. Preliminary estimates show that nearly 3 million people are without electricity nationwide.
In West Bengal, India, authorities reported that at least 1,200 electric poles were uprooted and 300 mud houses were flattened.
Nasrul Hamid, the Bangladesh State Minister for Power and Energy, posted on Facebook that “Leamarl” had caused extensive damage across the country. He mentioned that repair work on the lines would start immediately after the wind speed subsides, urging people to be patient.
Additionally, the cyclone also damaged around 10,000 telecommunication towers, leaving millions unable to use mobile communication services.
The Sundarbans region, home to the world’s largest mangrove forests shared between India and Bangladesh, was submerged.
The floods from “Leamarl” caused disruptions in traffic in the capital city of Dhaka, Bangladesh. In neighboring India, Kolkata saw severe flooding on many streets, leading to nearly one million emergency evacuations, including around 800,000 from Bangladesh and 110,000 from India.
On the 26th, over fifty flights were canceled in Kolkata, India, but later resumed, and railway transport operations have also returned to service.