Cyclone Nargis

Cyclone Nargis (01B, also known as Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Nargis) was a strong tropical cyclone that caused the deadliest natural disaster in the recorded history of Burma (also known as Myanmar). Nargis is the deadliest named cyclone in the North Indian Ocean Basin, as well as the second deadliest named cyclone of all time, behind Typhoon Nina. Including unnamed storms, Nargis is the 8th deadliest cyclone of all time. Nargis was the first tropical cyclone to strike the country since Cyclone Mala made landfall in 2006.

The cyclone made landfall in the country on May 2, 2008, causing catastrophic destruction and at least 78,000 fatalities. Labutta Township alone was reported to have 80,000 dead and some have estimated the death toll may be well over 100,000.

• Nargis developed on April 27 2008 in the central area of Bay of Bengal. Initially it tracked slowly northwestward and, encountering favorable conditions, it quickly strengthened.
• Dry air weakened the cyclone on April 29, though after beginning a steady eastward motion Nargis rapidly intensified to attain peak winds of at least 165 km/h on May 2;
• The Joint Typhoon Warning Center assessed peak winds of 215 km/h (135 mph).
• The cyclone moved ashore in the Ayeyarwady Division of Burma near peak intensity and, after passing near the major city of Yangon (Rangoon), the storm gradually weakened until dissipating near the border of Burma and Thailand.