Daulatpur–Saturia tornado
 Dhaka, the area hit by the tornado | |
| Max. rating1 | Unknown tornado |
|---|---|
| Fatalities | 1,300 (est.) |
| Damage | unknown |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale | |
The Daulatpur–Saturia, Bangladesh tornado was an extremely destructive tornado that occurred in the Manikganj District, Bangladesh on April 26, 1989. It was the costliest and deadliest tornado in Bangladesh's history. There is great uncertainty about the death toll, but estimates indicate that it killed around 1,300 people, which would make it the deadliest tornado in history.[1] The tornado affected the cities of Daulatpur and Saturia the most, moving east through Daulatpur and eventually northeast and into Saturia.[1] Previously, the area that the tornado hit had been in a state of drought for six months, possibly generating tornadic conditions.[1]
Damage and effects
Damage was extensive over the area, as countless trees were uprooted and every home within a six square kilometer area of the tornado's path was completely destroyed.[1] After the storm hit, an article in the Bangladesh Observer stated that "The devastation was so complete, that barring some skeletons of trees, there were no signs of standing infrastructures".[1] The tornado was estimated to be approximately one mile wide, and had a path that was about 50 miles long, through the poor areas and slums of Bangladesh.[2] Approximately 80,000 people were left homeless by the storm, and 12,000 people were injured by the storm.[3] Saturia and Manikganj were both fully destroyed by the tornado.[4] The Fujita scale rating of this storm is unknown due to poor housing construction and lack of data. In Bangladesh, housing construction in the poor areas is very poor, so sometimes a strong gust of wind may knock over a home and kill the residents inside. This is also why the vast majority of homes hit by the tornado were leveled.[1]
Frequency
Bangladesh is one of the countries with the highest frequency of tornadoes, behind the United States and Canada.[5] Bangladesh has received other deadly tornadoes, (see List of Asian tornadoes and tornado outbreaks), but this particular storm was the worst in the country's history.[5]
See also
References
- Cerveny, Randy (2005). Freaks of the Storm: From Flying Cows to Stealing Thunder: The World's Strangest True Weather Stories. Thunder's Mouth Press. ISBN 1-56025-801-2.
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- ^ a b c d e f Finch, Jonathan. "Tornados in Bangladesh and East India –—". National Weather Service. Bangladesh tornadoes. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Cerveny 2005, p. 272
- ^ Cerveny 2005, pp. 272–273
- ^ Cerveny 2005, p. 273
- ^ a b Edwards, Rodger. "Tornado FAQ". NOAA. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
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