Cyclone Mora wreaks havoc, cuts power in Maungtaw

May 30, 2017

Cyclone Mora wreaked havoc in Maungtaw Township in northern Rakhine State, leaving transportation and communications in chaos and causing a loss in power to the township as it crossed into Bangladesh  early yesterday morning.

The cyclone had intensified in the Bay of Bengal and travelled north, making landfall in Bangladesh but affecting northern Rakhine State in western Myanmar.

“We have removed the debris in the roads since the storm made landfall. I’m not sure if the storm killed people or not in villages because the storm has affected communications,” said U Thant Zin, head of the Maungtaw Township Fire Services Department.

The wind reached its maximum sustained speed at about 4am with heavy rain, cutting communications around 6am, he added.

“Security has also been tightened and departmental offices are also urged to be on alert due to the lack of communications and power supply since early morning,” said U Ye Htut, Maungtaw District deputy Commissioner.

Local authorities have carried out evacuations, cleared roads and started to compile a list of damaged buildings.

The cyclone weakened in Bangladesh by late morning.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar