Bangladesh: Cyclone - May 1985
Disaster description
A severe cyclone struck the coastal belt and offshore islands at midnight on Friday 24 May 1985. Winds were up to 160 mph and there was up to a 3-meter tidal bore. (UN DHA, 26 May 1985)
After a field visit accompanied by a UNDP program officer, and a swiss disaster relief unit representative, a UNDRO delegate reports that the worst affected areas were Coastal Chars Jabbar, Clark, Lakhi and Gang Chil. An in-flight survey of affected Coastal Chars (islands) reveals that the condition of dwelling-houses/shelters was 40 percent total destruction, 30 percent partial destruction, and 30 percent intact. (UN DHA, 7 Jun 1985)
The Government reported that 2,540 bodies had been recovered and estimated that 4,882 were missing. (UN DHA, 11 Jun 1985)