cyclone Nargis

• Cyclone Nargis


  Tropical cyclone that struck Myanmar in May 2008.
• Formation Date


  Cyclone formed on 27 April 2008.
• Location it hit

  Bay of Bengal, 466 miles southeast of Chennai.
• Causes of the Cyclone
• Warm Ocean Waters


  Increased cyclone energy by 300%.
• Cyclone Season


  Runs from April through December in North Indian Ocean.
• Time line of events
• April 27, 2008


  :The India Meteorological Department (IMD) declared the low-pressure system a tropical depression, located about 748 km east-southeast of Madras, India.
• April 28, 2008


  :The IMD upgraded the system to Cyclone Nargis, centered 340 miles east of Madras
• April 29, 2008


  :Nargis reached winds of 100 mph, equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane.
• May 1, 2008


  :The cyclone rapidly intensified and tracked eastward, regaining cyclone status
• May 2, 2008


  :Nargis peaked with winds of 135 mph (Category 4) and made landfall in southwest Myanmar
• Rainfall Amount


  600 mm of rain fell, causing flooding.
• Population Density


  1,000 people per sq km in Delta region.
• Death Toll


  At least 140,000 people died.
• Impact on Agriculture

  2008 and 2009 rice harvests were destroyed.
• Economic Damage

  Estimated damage worth $10 billion.
• Building Collapse Rate


  75% of buildings collapsed in affected areas.
• Health Facility Damage


  75% of health facilities significantly damaged.
• Government Response

  Myanmar government initially refused foreign aid.
• International Aid Request


  Requested by Myanmar government 6 days post-landfall.
• Aid Restrictions

  Myanmar placed harsh restrictions on international aid.
• ASEAN Aid Admission


  Allowed ASEAN members to deliver aid on 19 May.
• International Aid Contributions

  Various countries provided food and medical supplies.
• Sedimentation and Salination


  Storm caused erosion and salination of agricultural land.
• Disease Spread


  Survivors faced diseases post-cyclone.