It is the first extremely severe cyclone to hit India since 2004 and only the 10th such event in the country in over half a century.
Two people are reported to have been killed and over a million people have been evacuated to shelter after Cyclone Fani made landfall on the eastern coast of India.
THE EXTREMELY SEVERE CYCLONIC STORM “FANI” LAY CENTERED AT 0930 HOURS IST OF TODAY, 03rd MAY, 2019 NEAR LAT. 19.80N AND LONG. 85.70E OVER ODISHA COAST CLOSE TO PURI. LATEST OBSERVATION INDICATES THAT THE EYE OF THE SYSTEM HAS COMPLETELY MOVED INTO LAND BY 1000 HRS IST OF TODAY. pic.twitter.com/tsJ87o1NpD
— India Met. Dept. (@Indiametdept) May 3, 2019
Cyclone Fani made landfall in the town of Puri in the state of Orissa, also known as Odisha, at approximately 8am local time (2.30am GMT) on Friday morning, bringing with it winds of up to 205 km/h.
The #landfall of #CycloneFani #Odisha coast between Gopalpur & Chandbali close to #Puri has started. The wind speeds are also set to intensify over the next few hours. #OdishaPrepared4Fani @SRC_Odisha @osdma @ndmaindia @unisdr @otvnews pic.twitter.com/sEkQZMgDwf
— SEEDS (@SeedsIndia) May 3, 2019
This is exactly what one should NOT do during a cyclone. Request you to please go to a safe place. #CycloneFani https://t.co/jCXen8C6ql
— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) May 3, 2019
Approximately 3,00o shelters and 5,000 kitchens have been set up in schools and government buildings to accommodate over a million people affected by the cyclone, which has caused significant damage and flooding in the Odisha region.
More than 1 million people have been evacuated from the vulnerable districts in last 24hrs. Ganjam & Puri evacuated more than 3 lakh & 1.3 lakh people respectively to safe shelters. About 5000 kitchens started operating to serve people in the shelters. #OdishaPrepared4Fani
— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) May 3, 2019
In spite of extreme adverse weather, uprooted trees being removed by Ganjam Police and giving their best at Chatrapur areas. pic.twitter.com/NI43jawFrH
— SP GANJAM (@sp_ganjam) May 3, 2019
The National Disaster Management Authority in India has warned people along the east coast against going out to sea due to the “phenomenal” conditions.
It also warned of the potential “total destruction of thatched houses” as well as “extensive damage” to other structures in the area.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, the cyclone is expected to move north to northeastwards and weaken into a very severe cyclonic storm on Friday evening into Saturday, when it is expected to reach Bangladesh.
THE EXTREMELY SEVERE CYCLONIC STORM “FANI” IS VERY LIKELY TO MOVE NORTH-NORTHEASTWARDS AND WEAKEN INTO A VERY SEVERE CYCLONIC STORM DURING NEXT 6 HOURS.
— India Met. Dept. (@Indiametdept) May 3, 2019
Main image via Twitter/India Met. Dept.
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