1970 Bhola cyclone facts for kids
The cyclone making landfall in East Pakistan on 12 November
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| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 8 November 1970 |
| Dissipated | 13 November 1970 |
| Unknown strength tropical cyclone | |
| 3-minute sustained (IMD) | |
| Highest winds | 185 km/h (115 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 960 hPa (mbar); 28.35 inHg |
| Category 4 tropical cyclone | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
| Highest winds | 240 km/h (150 mph) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 300,000–500,000 total (Deadliest tropical cyclone on record) |
| Damage | $86.4 million (1970 USD) |
| Areas affected | |
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Part of the 1970 North Indian Ocean cyclone season |
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The 1970 Bhola cyclone was one of the deadliest tropical cyclones ever recorded. It is also known as the Great Cyclone of 1970. This powerful storm hit East Pakistan (which is now Bangladesh) and parts of India on November 12, 1970.
The cyclone caused immense destruction. Between 300,000 and 500,000 people lost their lives. Most deaths happened because of a huge storm surge. This was a wall of ocean water that flooded many low-lying islands in the Ganges Delta. The Bhola cyclone was the sixth and strongest storm of the 1970 North Indian Ocean cyclone season.
Contents
How the Cyclone Formed and Moved
The Bhola cyclone began as a tropical depression on November 8, 1970. It formed over the central Bay of Bengal. A tropical depression is like a baby storm, with winds spinning slowly. It grew stronger as it moved north.
By November 9, it became a full tropical cyclone. At this time, storms in this region were not given names. The storm paused for a bit, then sped up towards the north on November 10.
On November 11, the storm became very powerful. It was now a severe cyclonic storm. It started to turn towards the northeast. The storm developed a clear "eye," which is the calm center of a strong cyclone. Its winds reached about 185 kilometers per hour (115 mph).
The cyclone hit the coast of East Pakistan on the evening of November 12. This happened at the same time as the local high tide, making the flooding even worse. After reaching land, the storm quickly lost its strength. By November 13, it had weakened into just a leftover low-pressure system.
Preparing for the Storm
There were some problems with sharing information about the cyclone. Indian weather experts might have known about the storm. However, this information might not have reached East Pakistan quickly. This was due to political tensions between India and Pakistan at the time. Many people living in the storm's path were caught by surprise.
East Pakistan's storm warning system also faced challenges. The Pakistan Meteorological Department issued a "danger preparedness" report on November 12. As the storm got closer, a "great danger signal" was broadcast on Radio Pakistan. But many survivors later said they did not understand what this signal meant. They were more familiar with a different warning system.
After two other strong cyclones in 1960, Pakistan had asked for help to create a better warning system. Experts gave advice in 1961. However, not all of their suggestions were put into action by the government.
The Cyclone's Impact
The Bay of Bengal coast is very open to tropical cyclones. The Bhola cyclone became the deadliest tropical cyclone ever recorded. It is also one of the worst natural disasters in modern history. The exact number of deaths is still not known, but estimates range from 300,000 to 500,000 people.
This number of deaths is similar to other major disasters. These include the 1976 Tangshan earthquake and the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Because of the uncertainty, it is hard to say which event caused the most deaths.
Impact in Bangladesh
Template:Deadliest tropical cyclones The city of Chittagong was about 95 kilometers (59 miles) east of where the storm hit. It recorded winds of 144 kilometers per hour (89 mph). The storm caused a massive 10-meter (33-foot) high storm surge in the Ganges Delta. This huge wall of water flooded everything.
Reports said that no one survived on thirteen islands near Chittagong. Flights over the area showed complete destruction on the southern part of Bhola Island. Rice crops on Bhola Island, Hatia Island, and the nearby coast were all destroyed. Many ships in the ports of Chittagong and Mongla were damaged. Airports were also flooded for several hours.
More than 3.6 million people were directly affected by the cyclone. The total damage was estimated at US$86.4 million. This would be about US$701 million in 2024. Survivors reported that about 85% of homes were destroyed or badly damaged. The worst damage was along the coast.
Fishermen suffered greatly. About 90% of marine fishermen lost their boats and equipment. Out of 77,000 onshore fishermen, 46,000 died. About 65% of the region's fishing ability was destroyed. This was a big problem because fish provided 80% of the protein for people there. Crops worth US$63 million were lost, along with 280,000 cattle.
After the storm, there were concerns about diseases like cholera. The water supply was contaminated. This made it harder to send medical help to the affected areas.
Impact in India
The cyclone also brought heavy rain to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This caused floods in some areas. A cargo ship named MV Mahajagmitra sank during the storm on November 12. All fifty people on board were lost. The ship had reported very strong winds before it sank.
There was also widespread rain in West Bengal and southern Assam. This rain damaged homes and crops in these Indian states. The worst damage happened in the southernmost areas.
Understanding the Death Toll
Two medical surveys were done after the storm. The first survey looked at immediate medical needs. The second, more detailed survey, helped with long-term recovery plans. About 1.4% of the population in the affected area was studied.
The first survey estimated that about 14.2% of the population died. This meant around 240,000 deaths. Most injuries were minor. There were initial worries about outbreaks of cholera or typhoid. However, the survey found no evidence of widespread epidemics.
The second survey suggested that the total death toll was at least 224,000. This number might be an underestimate. It did not include migrant workers or entire families who were wiped out. The worst-hit area was Tazumuddin Upazila. There, 46.3% of the people died, which was about 80,000 deaths in that area alone.
The surveys showed that adult males aged 15–49 had the best chance of survival. Sadly, more than half of the deaths were children under 10. Children made up only one-third of the population before the cyclone. This shows that young children, older people, and those who were already sick were most at risk during the storm and its storm surge.
Aftermath and Changes
Political Changes After the Storm
The government's slow response to the Bhola Cyclone caused a lot of anger in East Pakistan. This anger helped the Awami League political party win a huge victory in the elections that followed. The elections for some seats had to be delayed because of the storm.
The central government's handling of aid made people in East Pakistan feel even more upset. Money and supplies were slow to reach the devastated areas. As tensions grew in March 1971, foreign workers left. This situation eventually led to a major conflict. This conflict resulted in the creation of an independent Bangladesh.
Improving Disaster Preparedness
After the cyclone, organizations like the Red Cross and the United Nations worked to improve disaster aid. They wanted to be better prepared for similar events in the future.
In 1972, the Red Crescent helped create the Cyclone Preparedness Programme. This program is now run by the government of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society. Its goals are to teach people about cyclone risks. It also trains emergency workers in coastal areas.
In the 30 years after the 1970 cyclone, over 200 cyclone shelters were built. These shelters were in the coastal regions of Bangladesh. When another strong cyclone approached in 1991, the Cyclone Preparedness Programme warned people days before it hit. Over 350,000 people moved to shelters or higher ground.
The 1991 cyclone still caused over 138,000 deaths. However, this was much less than the 1970 storm. This difference was partly thanks to the warnings from the preparedness program. The 1991 storm caused more damage in terms of money, about US$1.5 billion. The 1970 storm caused about US$86 million in damages.
In Books
The book The Vortex by Scott Carney and Jason Miklian talks about the Bhola cyclone. It explains how the government's failure to respond led to the 1971 conflict in Bangladesh.
See also
In Spanish: Ciclón Bhola para niños
- List of Bangladesh tropical cyclones
- List of tropical cyclone records
- 1991 Bangladesh cyclone
- New Moor – Landmass that appeared in the aftermath of the cyclone in the Bay of Bengal
