1985 Bangladesh cyclone explained

Formed:May 22, 1985
Dissipated:May 25, 1985
Winds:65
Pressure:979
Winds:60
Year:1985
Fatalities:11,069
Damage:18500000
Areas:Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar
Season:1985 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

Tropical Storm One was an extremely deadly cyclone which developed in the central Bay of Bengal on May 22, strengthened to a peak of 70 mph winds before hitting Bangladesh on the 25th. The storm brought torrential rains and flooding, killing around 11,069 people and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless.

Meteorological history

On May 22, a depression formed in the Bay of Bengal, it rapidly intensified to a tropical storm on May 24, it made landfall and dissipated on May 25.

Impact and aftermath

As tropical storm one made landfall in Bangladesh, it brought winds of 70 mph and a storm surge up to 3 meters high and heavy torrential rains and flooding, killing around 11,069 people. Every single person on the island of Urir Char, approximately 500 at the time, is thought to have been swept into the Bay of Bengal. A pilot who flew over the island said it was swept by waves, like it was inside the fireball on an atomic bomb. A total of 1.3 million people were affected. Approximately 137,000 homes were damaged, 102,000 of them were destroyed, 133,00 acres of crops damaged, and 120,000 cattle were killed.[1] [2] [3] [4]

International assistance

After the cyclone passed, other nations began helping.

UNDRO: Emergency grant $30,000

UNDP: Emergency grant $30,000

Ireland: For emergency relief $15,088.24, for rehabalation $30,176.49, Total $45,263.45

USA: Cash $25,000

Red cross (FED.REP. Germany: cash $96,774

Shipbuilding Foundation Ryokhi Ssawaka (Japan): cash $40,000[4]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rahman Khan. Sirajur. Cyclone Hazard in Bangladesh. ADPC.net. https://web.archive.org/web/20071119115544/http://www.adpc.net/casita/Case_studies/Coastal%20hazard%20assessment/Modelling%20cyclone%20hazard%20in%20Bangladesh/Background_information_on_the_storm_surge_modelling.pdf . 19 November 2007 . 4 December 2015.
  2. News: 1,400 Dead in Bangladesh; Toll Rising : Island Leveled by Cyclone, Tidal Wave; Thousands Homeless . Los Angeles Times . 27 May 1985.
  3. News: Major cyclones in the history of Bangladesh . Dhaka Tribune . 24 May 2021.
  4. Web site: Bangladesh - Cyclone May 1985 UNDRO Situation Reports 1-10 - Bangladesh.