8 May
India and Bangladesh began a massive clean-up Thursday after the fiercest cyclone since 1999 killed at least 95 people, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Cyclone Amphan flattened houses, uprooted trees, blew off roofs and toppled electricity pylons, while a storm surge inundated coastal villages and wrecked shrimp farms vital to the local econom
The United Nations office in Bangladesh estimates 10 million people were affected, and some 500,000 people may have lost their homes.
But the death toll was far lower than the many thousands killed in previous cyclones -- a result of improved weather forecasting and better response plans.
The disaster has raised fears, however, that overcrowding in storm shelters will exacerbate the spread of coronavirus.
India's West Bengal reported 72 deaths -- including 15 in the capital Kolkata -- with state premier Mamata Banerjee saying: "I haven't seen a disaster of this magnitude."
"This is the worst cyclone to hit the state since the one in 1737 when thousands lost their lives," she told reporters. Banerjee earlier described the cyclone's impact as "worse than coronavirus.
wenty-three people have died in Bangladesh, according to the official death toll.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will survey the damage in West Bengal and Odisha states on Friday, as well as take part in aid meetings.
AFP
