Rakhine State on cyclone alert

Rakhine people in western Myanmar are on alert for Mahasen cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, which is expected to pass through northern Rakhine State and Bangladesh late on Wednesday or early Thursday.

The tropical storm, which started as an atmospheric depression last Thursday has intensified and was classed as a cyclone yesterday.

Millions of people in northern India and Bangladesh could also be affected by Mahasen, according to weather reports.

UN agencies and humanitarian groups are concerned about the welfare of tens of thousands of refugees in Rakhine State, mainly Muslim Rohingya who had to flee their homes after outbreaks of ethnic riots in June and October last year. Most have been living in tents on low-lying land since being displaced. Some have already been shifted to emergency shelters in the state capital Sittwe, or allowed to stay with relatives. 

A refugee from Minpya said: “We are more worried as we are staying in tents. We are listening to radio news.”

A dried-fish seller in Sittwe said: “People are shopping to buy dry food.” Authorities said most people were aware of the cyclone and closely watching weather reports.

Accuweather.com predicts the cyclone will bring rain and strong wind to areas from northeast India, Bangladesh and Myanmar, around the Bay of Bengal.

The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS) forecast that the cyclone could also affect people in Myanmar’s Chin state and Sagaing region, plus Chittagong in Bangladesh, and Manipur and Mizoram in northeast India.

“Up to 5.2 million people could be affected by wind speeds of cyclone strength or above. In addition, 930000 people are living in coastal areas below 5m [above sea level] and they could therefore be affected by a storm surge,” GDACS warned.

A local in Myaypon town said: “Some people are following the news via the Internet and storing food in preparation. We are worried, as we’ve had experience with storms after forecasts of possible storms. Fishing boats are also on alert. Some went [out] to fish but some not. Some even packed their things at home.” 

Myanmar’s meteorology and hydrology department warned late yesterday that Mahasen will cross the Myanmar-Bangladesh coast on Thursday and bring heavy rain and wind to Rakhine state, most likely to Maungdaw area.

The department reported at 7pm yesterday that the storm was rated at “yellow stage” and would start to move northeast tomorrow. 

Late last week, officials from the department said the storm would not turn towards Myanmar, although international reports said this was a possibility.

People in Rakhine state said while fishing had been banned offshore, as usual along the Rakhine coast at this time, some boats had left Pauktaw, Myaypon and Yathedaung townships go fishing. An official from the fishery department in the region said: “We have warned the fishermen not to go fishing, and to move to shelters when the storm comes.

“Weather reports from India said the cyclone would affect Myanmar. When required, we will inform the public via loudspeakers,” Hla Thein, chairman of Rakhine state’s Information and Record Keeping Committee, said.

Mahasen cyclone has a radius of up 200 km. It was sighted 880km from Kawthaung at 7pm yesterday. Wind speed was about 160 kmh, and tides were expected to rise by up to two metres when the storm makes landfall, Myanmar Climate Change Watch reported.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Centre predicted the storm would hit the border on Wednesday.