Monster Cyclone in India Prompts the Biggest Evacuation in the Country's History

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Cyclone Fani hovers ominously over the Bay of Bengal in this image captured by the Japan Meteorological Agency's Himawari-8 satellite on April 30, 2019 (Image credit: NOAA Environmental Visualization Laboratory)

A massive cyclone is set to batter India over the next few days, spurring the biggest evacuation in the country's history.

The extremely severe cyclone, dubbed "Fani," is pummeling the Bay of Bengal and is projected to make landfall by Thursday night with approximately 120 mph (190 km/h) winds, with gusts up to 130 mph (210 km/h), according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Fani is also likely to bring "phenomenal" sea conditions in parts of the Bay of Bengal, according to the IMD.

Cyclone Fani will likely cause "total destruction" of thatched roof houses, as well as "extensive uprooting of communication and power poles," according to the IMD. India's air force, army, navy and coast guard are currently on high alert, and the country has opened 800 shelters for evacuees, the AP reported. The country also has more than 100,000 emergency food packets ready to be airdropped, according to the AP.

Originally published on Live Science.

Tia Ghose
Tia Ghose
Editor-in-Chief (Premium)

Tia is the editor-in-chief (premium) and was formerly managing editor and senior writer for Live Science. Her work has appeared in Scientific American, Wired.com, Science News and other outlets. She holds a master's degree in bioengineering from the University of Washington, a graduate certificate in science writing from UC Santa Cruz and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Tia was part of a team at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that published the Empty Cradles series on preterm births, which won multiple awards, including the 2012 Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism.