Present day Bangladesh, due to its unique geographic location, suffers from devastating tropical cyclones frequently. The funnel-shaped northern portion of the Bay of Bengal amplifies the storm surge of landfalling tropical cyclones, affecting thousands of people. Some of the most devastating natural disasters in recorded history with high casualties were tropical cyclones that hit the region now comprising present-day Bangladesh. Among them, the 1970 Bhola cyclone alone claimed approximately 300,000 to 500,000 lives, making it the deadliest tropical cyclone on record.
Tropical cyclones affecting Bangladesh have killed about 1.54 million people in the Bengal region.
Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organisation (SPARRSO), a government agency under the Ministry of Defence[1] provides storm predictions and early warnings using feeds from NASA and NOAA's satellites. The warnings are usually given in a scale of 10, with 10 being used for the deadliest storms.
A detailed program for storm prevention was outlined by the government following the cyclone of 1991. A Comprehensive Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) is jointly planned, operated, and managed by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society; a volunteer force of more than 32,000 are trained to help in warning and evacuation in the coastal areas.[2] Around 2,500 cyclone shelters have been constructed in the coastal regions. The shelters are built on elevated platforms and serve the dual role of schools or community centers during normal weather. In Patenga, Chittagong, the coast has been heavily protected with concrete levees. Also, afforestation has been initiated in the coastal regions to create a green belt.
width=5% | SL. No. | width=15% | Date/Year | width=15% | Type of Disturbance | width=15% | Deaths | width=40% | Relevant Information | width=25% | Reference/Source of Information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 1582 AD (Date and month N/A) | Severe Cyclonic Storm with a core of hurricane winds | ~200,000 killed | Coast: The cyclone crossed the coast of Backerganj (Sarkar Bala).Loss and damage:People killed = about 200,000 killed. The destruction was reported to have been caused by a storm wave. According to Banglapedia, a five-hour hurricane and thunderstorm destroyed houses and boats in the coast near Bakerganj (presently in Barisal and Patuakhali). Only Hindu temples with a strong foundation were spared. |
| ||||||
2. | 1585 (Date and month N/A) | N/A | A tropical storm hit the eastern side of Bakerganj (now Barisal) near the mouth of the Meghna River estuary, causing devastation of crops.Casualty: unknown. |
| |||||||
3. | 1699 (Date and month N/A) | Severe Cyclonic Storm | ~50,000 killed | Coast: The cyclone crossed the Sundarbans coastLoss and damage: Other information is not available. |
| ||||||
4. | 1760 (Date and month N/A) | Severe Cyclonic Storm | Coast: The cyclone crossed the Sundarbans coastLoss and damage: N/A.The whole area was almost damaged.Other information is not available. |
| |||||||
5. | 1765 (Date and month N/A) | Severe Cyclonic Storm | Coast: The cyclone crossed Chittagong coastLoss and damage: N/A.The whole area was destroyed.Other information is not available. |
| |||||||
6. | 1767 (Date and month N/A) | Severe Cyclonic Storm | 30,000 | Coast: The cyclone crossed Backerganj (Barisal) coast. Surge height: 13.03 m (43 ft) Loss and damage: People killed: 30,000.Other information is not available. |
| ||||||
7. | May–June 1797 (exact date N/A) | Severe Cyclonic Storm with a core of hurricane winds | Coast: The cyclone crossed Chittagong coastLoss and damage:Every house in the area was destroyed. Two ships were sunk in Chittagong Port.Other information is not available. |
| |||||||
8. | June 1822 (Actual date N/A) | Severe Cyclonic Storm with a core of hurricane winds | 50,000 | Coast: The cyclone crossed the coast of Backerganj (Barisal), Sarkar Bala. Loss and damage:People killed = 50,000. Cattle killed = 100,000. Storm wave swept away the collectorate records.Other information is not available. |
| ||||||
9. | 2 June 1823 | Cyclonic Storm | Coast: The cyclone crossed Chittagong coast Other information is not available. |
| |||||||
10. | 8 June 1824 | Heavy Storm (Severe Cyclonic Storm) | Coast: The cyclone crossed Chittagong coast Other information is not available. |
| |||||||
11. | 31 October 1831 | Severe Cyclonic Storm | 22,000 | Coast: The cyclone crossed Barisal coast (Grazed the Balasore-Orissa coast) Surge height: 2.12–4.55 m (7–15 ft) Loss and damage: People killed = 22,000 (along the coast of India and Bengal) Cattle killed > 50,000 Other information is not available. |
| ||||||
12. | 3–5 June 1839 | Cyclonic Storm | Coast: Crossed Head Bay (Bengal coast) Other information is not available. |
| |||||||
13. | 19–21 September 1839 | Cyclonic Storm | Coast: The storm passed north across Sundarbans coast between Calcutta and Barisal. Other information is not available. |
| |||||||
14. | 11 May 1844 | Cyclonic Storm (Gale) | Coast: Crossed Noakhali and Chittagong coast. Other information is not available. |
| |||||||
1847 | Cyclonicstorm | ~75,000 killed | Various locations in Bengal | Dipankar C. Patnaik & N. Sivagnanam (November 2007). "DISASTER VULNERABILITY OF COASTAL STATES: A Short Case Study of Orissa, India". Social Science Research Network. p. 4. SSRN 1074845. Missing or empty | |||||||
15. | 12–13 May 1849 | Cyclonic Storm (Gale) | Coast: The cyclone crossed Chittagong coast Other information is not available. |
| |||||||
16. | 23–28 April 1850 | Cyclonic Storm | Formation: Formed over West Nicobars. Coast: It moved north to Bengal from West Nicobars. Other information is not available. |
| |||||||
17. | 12–15 May 1852 | Cyclonic Storm | Formation: Formed near 15°N. Coast: It moved northward and crossed the Sundarbans coast; the center passed 39miles east of Calcutta Other information is not available. |
| |||||||
1864 | Kolkata Cyclone | More than 60,000 Bengalis were killed in Kolkata[3] | Kolkata and Bengal | Most houses collapsed and more than 60,000 Bengali children were killed due to severe head injuries in Kolkata[4] Most houses collapsed and more than 60,000 Bengali children were killed in Kolkata due to severe head injuries in Kolkata[5] Most houses collapsed and more than 60,000 Bengalis were killed due to severe head injuries in Kolkata[6] Most houses collapsed and more and 60,000 Indians were killed due to severe head injuries in Kolkata[7] Most houses collapsed and more and 60,000 Indian children were killed due to severe head injuries in Kolkata[8] | |||||||
18. | 13–17 May 1869 | Cyclonic Storm | The storm moved northwestward from Cape Negrais to Bengal and crossed the Bengal coast Other information is not available. |
| |||||||
19. | 5–10 June 1869 | Cyclonic Storm | Coast: From the North Bay the cyclone passed over Bengal. Other information is not available. |
| |||||||
20. | October 1872 (Date was not available) | Cyclonic Storm | Coast: The cyclone hit the coast of Cox's Bazar Other information is not available. |
| |||||||
21. | 29 October – 1 November 1876 | Severe Cyclonic Storm with a core of hurricane winds. | ~200,000 killed | Coast: The cyclone crossed the coast of Backerganj (present Barisal) near Meghna estuary. Maximum wind: 220 km/h (119 knots) Surge height: 3–13.6 m (10–45 ft) According to Banglapedia, a cyclone with a storm-surge of 12.2 metres (40 ft) hit Meghna River estuary near Chittagong, Barisal, and Noakhali. Casualty: about 200,000. The storm also caused epidemic and famine, and vast property damage. |
| ||||||
22. | 24 October 1897 | Cyclonic Storm | 14,000 | Coast:Kutubdia island near Chittagong. Casualty: 14,000. The resulting epidemic of Cholera killed another 18,000 | The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954) [9] --- | ||||||
23. | May 1898 (Date N/A) | Tropical cyclone with storm surge | Coast:Teknaf Casualty: unknown | --- | |||||||
24. | November 1904 (Date N/A) | Cyclonic storm | 143 | Coast:Sonadia143 killed and fishing fleet wrecked. | --- | ||||||
25. | 16 October 1909 | Cyclonic Storm | 698 | Coast:KhulnaCasualty: 698 people and 70,654 cattle. | --- | ||||||
26. | October 1913 (Actual Date N/A) | Cyclonic Storm | 500 | Coast:Muktagachha upazila (Mymensingh District)A tropical cyclone, having moved inland destroyed villages. Casualty: 500 people. | --- | ||||||
27. | 24 September 1917 | Cyclonic Storm | 432 | Coast:KhulnaCasualty: 432 people and 28,029 cattle. | --- | ||||||
28. | May 1941 (Date N/A) | Cyclonic Storm | Coast:Eastern Meghna River estuaryCasualty: unknown. | --- | |||||||
29. | October 1942 (date N/A) | Cyclonic Storm | Coast:The SundarbansCasualty: unknown. | --- | |||||||
30. | 17–19 May 1948 | Cyclonic Storm | 1,200 | Coast:Deltan between Chittagong and NoakhaliCasualty: approximately 1,200 people and 20,000 cattle. | --- | ||||||
31. | 16–19 May 1958 | Cyclonic Storm | 870 | Coast:East and West Meghna River estuary, east of Barisal and NoakhaliCasualty: 870 people and 14,500. Also standing crops were destroyed. | --- | ||||||
32. | 21–24 October 1958 | Cyclonic Storm | Coast:ChittagongCasualty:Approx. 100,000 families were rendered homeless. | --- | |||||||
33. | 9–10 October 1960 | Severe Cyclonic Storm | Coast:Eastern Meghna River estuary near Noakhali, Bakerganj, Faridpur and Patuakhali.Maximum Wind:201 km/hour Maximum Surge: 3.05 metres Casualty: 3,000 people. Other effects: 62,725 houses destroyed. Crops on 94,000 acres (380 km2) of land were destroyed | --- | |||||||
34. | 30–31 October 1960 | Severe Cyclonic Storm | Coast:Chittagong, Noakhali, Bakerganj, Faridpur, Patuakhali and eastern Meghna estuaryMaximum Wind:210 km/h Surge: 4.5–6.1 m Casualty: about 10,000 people, 27,793 cattle . Losses: 568,161 houses destroyed (including 70% houses in Hatiya). Also, two large ocean-going ships ran aground in the shore, and 5–7 vessels capsized in Karnaphuli River. | --- | |||||||
35. | 9 May 1961 | Severe Cyclonic Storm | 11,468 | Coast:Bagerhat and KhulnaMaximum Wind:161 km/h Surge height:2.44-3.05 m Casualty: 11,468 people (mostly in Char Alexander), 25,000 cattle. Damages: The railway tracks between Noakhali and Harinarayanpur were damaged. | --- | ||||||
36. | 26–30 October 1962 | Severe Cyclonic Storm | Coast:FeniMaximum Wind:161 km/h Surge height:2.5-3.0 m Casualty: about 1,000 people, many domestic cattle. | --- | |||||||
37. | 28–29 May 1963 | Severe Cyclonic Storm | Coast:Chittagong, Noakhali, Cox's Bazar and coastal islands of Sandwip, Kutubdia, Hatiya and Maheshkhali.Maximum Wind:203 km/h (164 km/h at Cox's Bazar) Surge height:4.3-5.2 m Casualty: 11,520 people, 32,617 cattle. Damages: 376,332 houses, 4,787 boats, and standing crops. | --- | |||||||
38. | 11–12 May 1965 | Cyclonic Storm | 19,279 | Coast:Barisal and BakerganjMaximum Wind:162 km/h Surge height:3.7 m Casualty:19,279 people (out of that, 16,456 in Barisal). | --- | ||||||
39. | 14–15 December 1965 | Cyclonic Storm | Coast: near Cox's Bazar and PatuakhaliMaximum Windspeed:210 km/h at Cox's Bazar Surge height:4.7-6.1 m Casualty 873 people. Damage: 40,000 salt beds destroyed | --- | |||||||
40. | 1 October 1966 | Cyclonic Storm | 850 | Coast:Sandwip, Bakerganj, Khulna, Chittagong, Noakhali and ComillaSurge height:4.7-9.1 m Maximum Wind:146 km/h Total people affected: 1.5 million people. Casualty: 850 people, 65,000 cattle. | --- | ||||||
41. | 7-13 November: The 1970 Bhola cyclone | Extremely severe Cyclonic storm | 500,000+ | Coast:entire coast of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan)Most affected were Chittagong, Barguna, Khepupara, Patuakhali, north of Char Burhanuddin, Char Tazumuddin and south of Maijdi, Haringhata. The official death toll was 500,000 but the number is likely to be higher. Damages include destruction of approximately 20,000 fishing boats, and also property and crops. Total loss of cattle reached more than one million. More than 400,000 houses and 3,500 educational institutions were destroyed.Maximum Wind:222 km/h Maximum Surge:10.6 m. | --- | ||||||
42. | 5–6 November 1971 | Cyclonic Storm | Coast:Coastal areas of ChittagongCasualty:unknown | --- | |||||||
43. | 28–30 November 1971 | Cyclonic Storm | Coast:near the SundarbansWind Speed:97–113 km/h Surge height:1 m Effect:Low-lying areas of Khulna town inundated | --- | |||||||
44. | 6–9 December 1973 | Cyclonic Storm | Coast:near the SundarbansCoastal areas near Patuakhali and nearby islands were submerged under the tidal bore. | --- | |||||||
45. | 13–15 August 1974 | Cyclonic Storm | 600 | Coast:KhulnaMaximum Wind:80.5 km/h Casualty:600 people. | --- | ||||||
46. | 24–28 November 1974 | Cyclonic Storm | 200 | Coast:near Cox's Bazar and ChittagongMaximum Wind:161 km/h Surge height:2.8-5.2 m Casualty: 200 people, 1000 cattle. Damages: 2,300 houses destroyed. | --- | ||||||
This is a partial list of the tropical cyclones in Bangladesh or the historical region of Bengal of pre-partitioned India in general. Some of the years and dates may be slightly incorrect. Most of the figures have been taken from Banglapedia.[2]