Towns and villages were flooded and tens of thousands of homes destroyed as Cyclone struck India. In more than a decade the strongest storm to hit India made landfall in eastern Orissa state. Officials said they knew of only 17 fatalities more than 20 hours after the disaster struck.
Most of the deaths came from falling branches or collapsing buildings in the rains ahead of the 125 mph cyclone, but it initially appears that the evacuation of almost 1million people saved many lives.
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‘Damage to property is extensive,’ said Amitabh Thakur, the top police officer in the Orissa district worst-hit by the cyclone. ‘But few lives have been lost,’ he added, crediting the mass evacuations.
The storm washed away tens of thousands of mud and thatched roof huts and sent seawater surging inland. It slowed significantly overnight, with some areas reporting only breezy drizzles by midday.
But meteorologists said parts of the region would face heavy rains and winds for the next 24 hours.
‘Its intensity is still strong, but after crossing the coast it has weakened considerably,’ Sharat Sahu, a top official with the Indian Meteorological Dept. in Orissa, told reporters.
In the meantime, Prime Minister David Cameron today said the UK would do what it could to help ease the ‘shocking’ devastation caused in India by Cyclone Phailin.
God help us
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