Over one million people evacuated as Cyclone Fani makes landfall in India

It is the first extremely severe cyclone to hit India since 2004 and only the 10^th 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. https://twitter.com/Indiametdept/status/1124177514568372224 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. https://twitter.com/SeedsIndia/status/1124165003047620614 https://twitter.com/ndmaindia/status/1124167126384701441 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. https://twitter.com/CMO_Odisha/status/1124113728289427456 https://twitter.com/sp_ganjam/status/1124135990195474432 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. https://twitter.com/Indiametdept/status/1124177889857982464 Main image via Twitter/India Met. Dept.