By the time you read this the news may be much worse. As of Monday morning, at least 15,000 people were feared dead in the worst tropical cyclone (hurricane) to hit Bangladesh since 1991, when 143,000 died (a cyclone in 1970 killed half a million people).
In the worst hit areas, 90 percent of homes are destroyed and 95% of the rice crop wiped out by the 15-20 foot tidal surge and 150 mph winds associated with the monster storm. Cyclone Sidr was for a time a Category 5 storm, and made landfall in one of the world’s most densely populated regions.
Aid agencies are gearing up to respond, including World Vision and Save the Children.
Figures taken from UK Telegraph and BBC News.
