Cyclone Mocha highlights: Storm ‘very severe’; Bangladesh, Myanmar plan massive evacuation

Cyclone Mocha in the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm. The authorities are closely monitoring the situation.

Cyclone Mocha is forecast to make landfall on May 14 along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, according to India's meteorological office, packing winds of up to 145 kilometres (90 miles) per hour. (AFP)

Cyclone Mocha has intensified into very severe cyclonic storm, according Indian Meterological Department.

Follow all the updates here:

• 12 May 2023, 08:59:10 PM IST

  Stronger cyclonic storms result of climate change: Scientists

  Scientists on Friday said that cyclonic storms in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea are becoming more intense and lasting longer due to climate change.

• 12 May 2023, 08:13:59 PM IST

  Myanmar families leave home to seek shelter as cyclone braces for landfall

  Families in western Myanmar left their homes to seek shelter and higher ground as ‘very dangerous’ cyclone Mocha braces for landfall.

• 12 May 2023, 07:45:01 PM IST

  Will Cyclone Mocha make a direct hit?

  Clyclone Mocha is expected to make a landfall in Bangladesh on Sunday. While a direct hit is not expected, it will affect Bangladesh's southeastern border district of Cox's Bazar where a million Rohingya refugees live.

• 12 May 2023, 07:05:24 PM IST

  World's largest refugee camp threatened by cyclone Mocha

  Cyclone Mocha could trigger possible landslides in Bangladesh that could hit the world's biggest refugee camp.

• 12 May 2023, 06:38:31 PM IST

  IMD says rain expected in northeast over weekend

  IMD director general M Mohapatra said dry and continental winds were blowing over the entire east India in the direction of Cyclone Mocha. “We are expecting rains in northeastern states on May 13 and 14 and strong winds,” said Mohapatra.

• 12 May 2023, 06:09:39 PM IST

  As cyclone Mocha turns 'very severe', IMD issues weather forecast for weekend

• 12 May 2023, 05:33:25 PM IST

  Cyclone Mocha 'very severe’ storm with wind speed of 150-160 kmph: IMD

  The weather agency tweeted that cyclone Mocha is likely to cross southeast Bangladesh and north Myanmar coasts between Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh) and Kyaukpyu(Myanmar), close to Sittwe (Myanmar) around noon of 14th May, 2023 as a ‘very severe’ cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 150-160 kmph gusting to 175 kmph.

• 12 May 2023, 05:17:10 PM IST

  How was Cyclone Mocha named and when will it make landfall?

  The Cyclone Mocha (Mokha) - a name suggested by Yemen - was named after the Red Sea port city which is known to have introduced coffee to the world over 500 years ago.

• 12 May 2023, 04:17:32 PM IST

  World Meteorological Organisation warns of big humanitarian impacts as cyclone Mocha approaches landfall

  World Meteorological Organization said Friday that cyclone Mocha had intensified very quickly and warned of ‘big humanitarian impacts’ when it makes landfall in Myanmar and Bangladesh on Sunday.

• 12 May 2023, 03:43:44 PM IST

  Bangladesh, Myanmar brace for severe cyclone Mocha, thousands to be evacuated

  Authorities in Bangladesh and Myanmar prepared to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people Friday as the cyclone Mocha braces for landfall in the next two days.

• 12 May 2023, 03:02:21 PM IST

  Cyclone Mocha : WB govt takes precautionary measures

  West Bengal government has taken precautionary measures to combat possible devastation by Cyclone Mocha and has shifted residents of low lying and coastal areas of the state to safe shelters, an official said on Friday.

• 12 May 2023, 02:16:33 PM IST

  Cyclone Mocha updates: Millions of fishers and coastal communities in Bangladesh and Myanmar likely to be affected

  “This is the first cyclone system in the north Indian Ocean this year," Rajendra Kumar Jenamani, a senior scientist at the Indian Meteorological Department told PTI. “The cyclone is severe and will likely affect millions of fishers and coastal communities in Bangladesh and Myanmar."

• 12 May 2023, 01:38:03 PM IST

  Cyclone Mocha: Bangladesh preparing for the impact

• 12 May 2023, 01:17:58 PM IST

  Cyclone Mocha: Bangladesh planning to evacuate 5 lakh people

  Evacuation of nearly 5,00,000 people is expected to start Saturday with 576 cyclone shelters ready to provide refuge to those moved from their homes along a vast coast, said Bangladesh government administrator Muhammad Shaheen Imran, PTI reported.

• 12 May 2023, 12:14:12 PM IST

  Cyclone Mocha updates: Shipping and offshore industries are likely to be impacted

  Shipping and offshore industries are likely to be impacted due to the very rough to phenomenal sea ( 9-14 m wave height). IMD has recommended regulation of tourism and offshore activities and shipping near Andaman and Nicobar Islands until Saturday. It has advised regulation of shipping activity in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea until Sunday.

• 12 May 2023, 12:13:07 PM IST

  Cyclone Mocha updates: IMD warning for Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur

  IMD has warned of minor damage to loose/unsecured structures, uprooting of small trees and breaking of tree branches, the possibility of landslides in vulnerable areas, and damage to small trees such as bananas in Mizoram, Tripura, and South Manipur. Read in detail

• 12 May 2023, 11:29:04 AM IST

  'Cyclone Mocha is moving with a speed of 9km per hour towards north direction'

• 12 May 2023, 11:20:07 AM IST

  Key election in Thailand even as Cyclone Mocha predicted to impact the country on Sunday

  Thailand will hold a crucial election on Sunday, amid the meteorological department's prediction of persistent rain across the country as a result of Cyclone Mocha.

• 12 May 2023, 11:04:29 AM IST

  Rohingya settlements in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar braces for Cyclone Mocha

• 12 May 2023, 10:58:24 AM IST

  How Cyclone Mocha got its name?

  The Cyclone Mocha (Mokha) - a name suggested by Yemen - was named after the Red Sea port city which is known to have introduced coffee to the world over 500 years ago.

• 12 May 2023, 10:58:00 AM IST

  How are cyclones named?

  Cyclones are named depending on the regional rules.

  The system of naming cyclones was adopted by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and member countries of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission (ESCAP). According to the WMO, in the Atlantic and in the Southern Hemisphere (Indian Ocean and South Pacific), tropical cyclones receive names in alphabetical order, and women's and men's names are alternated, while in the Northern Indian Ocean, the names are listed alphabetically by country and are gender-neutral.

• 12 May 2023, 10:36:49 AM IST

  Precautionary steps during cyclone

  1. Stay informed. Follow the instructions of local authorities.
  2. Evacuate if necessary. If you live in a coastal area or low-lying area, be prepared to evacuate if ordered to do so.
  3. Secure your home. Board up windows and doors, and secure loose objects that could become projectiles in strong winds.
  4. Have a plan. Know where you will go and what you will do if you lose power or water. Have a supply of food, water, and other essentials on hand.
  5. Stay safe. If you must go outside, be aware of your surroundings and take shelter from strong winds and flying debris.
• 12 May 2023, 10:24:48 AM IST

  Cyclone Mocha in animation

• 12 May 2023, 10:00:38 AM IST

  Cyclone Mocha updates: Indian Coast Guard on high alert

  The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has also released an official statement stating that its personnel have been placed on high alert in response to the IMD's cyclonic storm Mocha warning. 

  According to the statement, the ICG is prepared to respond to the cyclonic storm as indicated by the IMD, and the update has been communicated with the fisheries and civil administration.

• 12 May 2023, 09:57:42 AM IST

  Cyclone Mocha updates: NDRF deploys 8 teams after IMD's warning

  The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 8 teams and 200 rescuers in West Bengal's Digha after warnings about cyclone 'Mocha' of intensifying into a severe storm.

• 12 May 2023, 09:42:02 AM IST

  Cyclone Mocha latest updates

  The Indian Metrological Department says, "The SCS “Mocha" intensified into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm, lay centered at 0530 hours IST of 12th May 2023 over Central adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal near latitude 13.2N & longitude 88.1E, about 520 km west-northwest of Port Blair."

• 12 May 2023, 09:37:19 AM IST

  Cyclone Mocha predicted to change direction

  Cyclone Mocha is expected to peak in intensity on Saturday as it recurves over the central Bay of Bengal. Read more