Tenth Anniversary of Very Severe Tropical Cyclone Nargis

 

Fifth Anniversary of Cyclone Nargis Tradegy
MODIS satellite picture of Severe Cyclone Nargis making landfall at Burma (NASA)

On May 2, 2008 Very Severe Cyclone Nargis made landfall 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$13 billion in damage. Relief efforts were hampered by the Burmese ruling junta which at first refused outside aid.  The junta ended two years later with nominal civilian control of the government restored.For more information see

http://www.ifrc.org/en/news-and-media/news-stories/asia-pacific/myanmar/myanmar-cyclone-nargis-2008-facts-and-figures/

and

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=19860