May 2nd marks the 5th anniversary of the devastating landfall of Very Severe Cyclone Nargis in Burma (Myanmar). The cyclone struck the delta of the Irrawaddy River with JTWC-estimated winds of 135 mph (117 kt, 60 m/s), sending a storm surge some 40 km inland and causing nearly 140,000 deaths. By some calculations this makes Nargis the seventh deadliest cyclone in the North Indian Ocean, and it was among the most expensive with some US$10 billion in damage. Relief efforts were hampered by the Burmese ruling junta which at first refused outside aid.
For more information see
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http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=19860