Cyclone Mocha Update: To Become ‘Very Severe’ Storm and Hit Bangladesh-Myanmar Coast on May 14

New Delhi: The very severe cyclonic storm, Mocha, lay centered over the East Central Bay of Bengal in the early hours of Saturday. It is likely to cross Southeast Bangladesh and North Myanmar coasts between Cox’s Bazar and Kyaukpyu, close to Sittwe in Myanmar around noon of Sunday (May 14) as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 150-160 km/hr, gusting to 175 km/hr, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

VSCS “Mocha” intensified into a ESCS over Eastcentral BoB at 2330 IST located near latitude 15.1°N and longitude 88.8°E, about 700 km southwest of Sittwe (Myanmar). To cross SE Bangladesh and N Myanmar coasts bet Cox’s Bazar and Kyaukpyu around noon of 14th May as VSCS. pic.twitter.com/wfARYuddkL

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 12, 2023

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the deep sea of the North Bay of Bengal between May 12 and May 14. The authorities have issued a high alert in the northeastern states, eastern India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

As per the Met Office predictions, Tripura and Mizoram will receive heavy showers Saturday onwards. Nagaland, Manipur, and south Assam will be hit by rains at isolated places on Sunday (May 14). Kerala, Odisha, and Karnataka will also receive moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms.

NDRF teams arrived in West Bengal’s Digha on Friday noon to monitor the likely untoward situation.

Like every other tropical cyclone, ‘Mocha’ was named by Yemen after a small fishing village in the country that’s known for its coffee production.