Hundreds of thousands to be evacuated as Bangladesh and Myanmar brace for severe cyclone

By JULHAS ALAM
Associated Press

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Authorities in Bangladesh and Myanmar are preparing to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people as they brace for a severe cycloe churning in the Bay of Bengal. India’s Meteorological Department says Cyclone Mocha is expected to hit land on Sunday with  wind speeds of up to 100 miles per hour between Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh and Kyaukpyu in Myanmar. The evacuation of nearly 500,000 people is expected to start Saturday in Bangladesh with more than 500 cyclone shelters ready to provide refuge to those moved from their homes. Bangladesh, a delta nation with more than 160 million people, is prone to natural disasters such as floods and cyclones.