As Michaung wreaks havoc, a look at the 7 most devastating cyclones in the past – Times of India

Cyclone Michaung wreaks havoc in the city of Chennai, causing heavy rain, flooding, and chaos. As the severe cyclonic storm approaches India’s coastline, Chennai, with its 12 million residents, braces for impact. Streets are waterlogged, and the airport has submerged runways and canceled flights.
While Michaung’s impacts the people, it is worth revisiting some of the most catastrophic cyclones in history that have left communities and regions devastated. These natural disasters, marked by destruction and loss of life, serve as reminders of the immense power that cyclones can unleash.

1. Great Bhola Cyclone, Bangladesh, 1970
The sixth cyclonic storm of the 1970 North Indian Ocean season, the Great Bhola Cyclone, reached Category 3 hurricane strength. Resulting in over $490 million in damages, it destroyed 85% of homes in the affected area, particularly along the coast. The storm surge wiped out villages, causing the most severe devastation in Tazumuddin, where over 45% of the population died. Nearly 46,000 fishermen lost their lives, severely impacting the coastal region’s fishing industry.

2. Hooghly River Cyclone, India and Bangladesh, 1737
The Hooghly River Cyclone of 1737 stands as one of the deadliest natural disasters. Making landfall in the Ganges River Delta, it caused a storm surge of 10–13 meters and 381 mm of rain in a 6-hour period. Calcutta witnessed the destruction of the majority of its structures, resulting in 3,000 reported deaths. The overall toll included the loss of 20,000 water vessels and an estimated 300,000 to 350,000 lives.

3. Haiphong Typhoon, Vietnam, 1881
Striking Haiphong, Vietnam, and the surrounding coastal area, the Haiphong Typhoon of 1881 claimed the lives of approximately 300,000 people. The monstrous typhoon’s storm surge flooded the low-lying city, making it one of the greatest losses of life from any tropical cyclone worldwide.

4. Coringa Cyclone, India, 1839
Coringa, once a bustling port city, faced devastation in 1839 when a cyclone delivered destructive winds and a massive 12-meter storm surge. The port was destroyed, and 300,000 lives were lost, leaving Coringa as a village that never fully recovered.

5. Backerganj Cyclone, Bangladesh, 1584
The Great Backerganj Cyclone of 1876 hit the coast of Backerganj, resulting in around 200,000 fatalities. Half drowned in the storm surge, while the rest succumbed to famine. The cyclone formed over the Bay of Bengal, intensifying into a severe cyclonic storm with hurricane winds.

6. Great Backerganj Cyclone, Bangladesh, 1876
This cyclone, occurring between October 29 and November 1, 1876, was one of the deadliest tropical cyclones in history. It struck the coast of Backerganj, claiming approximately 200,000 lives.

7. Chittagong Cyclone, Bangladesh, 1897
In 1897, also known as Cyclone 2B, between 135,000 to 145,000 people died and up to 10 million were homeless. Improved warning and shelter systems in Bangladesh since 1991 have mitigated the toll of subsequent cyclones.