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| Version | Summary | Created by | Modification | Content Size | Created at | Operation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camila Xu | -- | 2020 | 2022-11-24 01:31:40 |
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The 1968 Burma cyclone was regarded as the worst to strike the country during the 20th century before it was surpassed by another unnamed cyclone in 2004 and further, Cyclone Nargis in 2008, respectively. The first tropical cyclone of the 1968 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, it started as a depression on May 7 on the northern Andaman Sea. With low wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures, the storm intensified in the waters near Burma before heading northwestwards. It then started to rapidly intensify, with an eye becoming apparent on satellite imagery on May 9. Also that day, it reached its peak intensity, with 3-minute maximum sustained winds of 220 km/h (140 mph) by the Indian Meteorological Department, which is equivalent to a super cyclonic storm; however, the agency treated the system as a severe cyclonic storm. Little to no changes happened on the cyclone as it turned northeastwards, making landfall near Akyab (now Sittwe) between 18:00 and 21:00 UTC on that day. Land interaction rapidly weakened the storm, dissipating on May 10 as an area of low-pressure in south Chin State. The predecessor to the cyclone caused light to moderate downpour to the Andaman Islands; however, no deaths were reported. Winds reported from the cyclone inland Burma reached an estimate of 60–100 mph, altogether with heavy rainfall and large storm surges. The former flooded the crops, submerging them in floodwaters in the process while the latter washed out villages near the path of the storm. Schools and hospitals throughout Akyab were destroyed by high winds and large waves, while the port suffered major damages. The town was almost destroyed due to the storm. In addition, some ships in the said harbor, including the Greek freighter Geros Michalos were reportedly sunk in the Bay of Bengal. Houses were destroyed during the storm and many livestock died, mainly due to drowning. The death toll from the cyclone was finalized on May 1968 at 1,307 individuals, while 2,000 more were reportedly missing. The property damages were estimated at K15 million kyat ($3.248 million United States dollar ). After the cyclone, the Government of Burma started to release aid to the victims, altogether with food supplies and cotton blankets. The Red Cross Society of the country donated cases of medicines to the country, while the United States Government released over 25,000 blankets to be transferred to the area. In addition, many countries and organizations including the UNICEF contributed over $121,291 (1968 USD) to Myanmar, following the disaster.
References
- (PDF) India Weather Review Annual Summary — Part-C: Storms and Depressions 1968 (Report). India Meteorological Department. 1969. ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/docs.lib/htdocs/rescue/cd024_pdf/005ED27E.pdf. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- Knapp, Kenneth R.; Kruk, Michael C.; Levinson, David H.; Diamond, Howard J.; Neumann, Charles J. (2010). "1968 SEVERE CYCLONIC STORM NOT NAMED (1968128N14096)". The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS): Unifying tropical cyclone best track data (Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society). http://ibtracs.unca.edu/index.php?name=v04r00-1968128N14096. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
- "CYCLONE, BURMA DISASTER RELIEF, MAY 1968". United States Agency for International Development (USAID). May 1968. https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pnady561.pdf. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
- "Burma Cyclone Toll Hits 837". The Wichita Eagle: pp. 41. May 15, 1968. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77896170/burma-cyclone-toll-hits-837/.
- "Burma Cyclone Dead Said 800". The Lincoln Star: pp. 15. May 16, 1968. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77945946/burma-cyclone-dead-said-800/.
- "400 Perish in Burma Cyclones". St. Joseph Gazette: pp. 10. May 13, 1968. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77896416/400-perish-in-burma-cyclones/.
- "Killer cyclone". The Times: pp. 8. May 9, 1994. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77943532/killer-cyclone/.
- "Datebook for May 9, 1993:". Vidette-Messenger of Porter County: pp. 10. May 9, 1993. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77943661/datebook-for-may-9-1993/.
- "Myanmar: Storm OCHA Situation Report No. 1". United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (ReliefWeb). May 27, 2004. http://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/myanmar-storm-ocha-situation-report-no-1. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- "80,000 dead in one Burma province" , The Australian, May 9, 2008 http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23664740-12377,00.html
- The damage was originally reported in 2004 Myanmar kyat. Conversion provided by the Oanda Corporation.[11]
- "Toll Passes 1,000 in Burma cyclone". The News Journal: pp. 2. May 22, 1968. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77944590/toll-passes-1000-in-burma-cyclone/.
- "1,000 Dead In Burma Cyclone". The Napa Valley Register: pp. 28. May 22, 1968. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77944864/1000-dead-in-burma-cyclone/.
