Cyclone Mocha is about to hit Myanmar, 2 million people are at risk of being affected

Typhoon Mocha is classified as Red. (Source: Indiatodayne)

Local and international meteorological organizations have warned that Typhoon Mocha could cause damage to more than 2 million people in Myanmar when it makes landfall in the Southeast Asian country on May 14.

On May 11, the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS) classified Cyclone Mocha, which formed off the Bay of Bengal, as a Red category storm.

Some local media reported that evacuations were underway in areas that could be worst hit by the storm, such as Kyauk Phyu and Sittwe in Rakhine state.

GDACS forecasts that nearly 1 million people in Rakhine state, more than 170,000 in Magway region and more than 440,000 in Sagaing state will be affected. Other states will also see strong winds and heavy rain, including Chin state, Ayeyawady region and Yangon.

The Myanmar Meteorological Department forecasts that Cyclone Mocha will be most destructive in the Kyauk Phyu areas of Rakhine state and Cox Bazaar in the South Asian nation of Bangladesh on May 14.

Meanwhile, the Joint Cyclone Warning Centre and the India Meteorological Department estimate that when the storm makes landfall, the sustained wind speed will be at 175-185 km/h.

Although the storm has not yet entered Myanmar, heavy rains have already caused traffic jams and flooding in Yangon, the economic hub of Myanmar. The town of Kalaw in Shan State also experienced sudden heavy rains, causing creeks and streams to overflow, completely inundating 72 temporary workers' houses.

According to the forecast of the Thai Meteorological Department on May 12, due to the impact of Typhoon Mocha, many areas in Thailand will have heavy to very heavy rain from May 12 to 15. Notably, heavy rain is also forecast in many places on election day, May 14.

The Thai Meteorological Department has advised small boats in the Andaman Sea to stay ashore from May 13-16 due to rough seas with waves of 2-3 meters high. People living at the foot of mountains or near natural waterways are advised to be on guard against flash floods and overflows.

Forty-seven provinces across Thailand, except the South, are forecast to receive continuous rain on May 12 as southerly and southeasterly winds are blowing across northern Thailand.

It is forecast that by 5am on May 13, about 70% of the North Central and Northeastern provinces will have thunderstorms. 60% of the capital Bangkok and its suburbs are expected to have rain, with heavy showers in some areas./.

Do Sinh (VietnamPlus)

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