The recent category 5 storm called Mocha’s approach to Myanmar started on May 14, 2023 with winds roaring as fast as 175 miles (280 kilometers) per hour. Mocha made landfall about 30 km west-northwest of Sittwe (Myanmar) and 150 km south-southeast of Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh).
The evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people from vulnerable areas in both Bangladesh and Myanmar in advance of the storm may have helped limit casualties.
However, local news reported the storm caused widespread damage in Sittwe, the state capital of Rakhine. Early reports on flooded streets, downed trees and power lines, and roofs torn from homes and deaths are recorded but the full impact of the storm can’t be assessed due to the telecommunication interruptions. The Bangladesh authorities told the BBC that more than 1,300 shelters were damaged by the wind, as were 16 mosques and learning centers.
Let’s continue to pray for people impacted by Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar and Bangladesh for God’s provision and protection.
