Overall Red alert Tropical Cyclone for AMPHAN-20
in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan

Event summary

Tropical Cyclone AMPHAN-20 can have a high humanitarian impact based on the maximum sustained wind speed, exposed population and vulnerability.

GDACS ID TC 1000667
Name AMPHAN-20
Glide number: TC-2020-000137-BGD
From - To 16 May - 20 May
Exposed countries India, Bangladesh, Bhutan
Exposed population 33.8 million in Category 1 or higher
Maximum wind speed 269 km/h Category 5
Maximum storm surge 2.2 m (20 May 14:00 UTC)
Vulnerability High (Bangladesh)

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS alert score click here.
Wind Storm surge Rainfall GDACS score
GDACS JTWC 139 km/h 1.7 m n.a. 2.5
Single TC: maximum expected impact (wind, storm surge, rainfall)
HWRF 263 km/h 2.2 m 1054 mm 2.5
GFS 263 km/h 2.4 m 749 mm 0.5
ECMWF 166 km/h 2.5 m 658 mm 1.5
Maximum expected impact (wind, storm surge and rainfall) using different data sources.
Virtual OSOCC
Meteo assessment
Satellite products
Analytical products
India, Bangladesh - Tropical Cyclone AMPHAN (ECHO 18 May 2020)Mon, 18 May 2020 13:06

  • On 16 May, a new Tropical Cyclone named AMPHAN formed over India Ocean and started moving north over the Bay of Bengal, toward north-east India coastal area and south of Bangladesh. On 18 May, its centre was located offshore approximately 600 km south-east of Visakhapatnam City (northern Andhra Pradesh), and 1,000 km south-west of the coastal area of Barisal Division (Bangladesh).
  • On the forecast track, AMPHAN is forecast to continue moving north over the Bay of Bengal well off the coast of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, slightly weakening. It could reach the coast of southern West Bengal (India) and southern Barisal Division (Bangladesh) on 20 May.
  • The Needs Assessment Working Group (NAWG) in Bangladesh estimates 10.9 million people across 10 districts are exposed to the cyclone. Approximately 1.5 million are expected to be displaced with nearly 0.7 million of houses are damaged and destroyed.
  • In India, the Government of West Bengal and Odisha has issued an advisory for the necessary evacuation of people from vulnerable location. The National Disaster Response Force have been deployed for the evacuation of nearly 1.1. million people.
  • Heavy rain and strong winds are forecast over Odisha on 18-20 May as well as over West Bengal (India) and southern Bangladesh on 19-21 May. Storm surge is also expected over these last 2 regions on 20-21 May.
India, Bangladesh - Tropical Cyclone AMPHAN update (ECHO 19 May 2020)Tue, 19 May 2020 13:09

  • Tropical Cyclone AMPHAN has intensified into a super cyclonic storm as it continues north over the central Bay of Bengal, toward India's Odisha and West Bengal States and Bangladesh's Barisal Division. On 19 May at 0.00 UTC, its centre was approximately 440 km south-east of Visakhapatnam City and 780 km south-southwest of Kolkata, with maximum sustained winds of 220 km/h.
  • AMPHAN is expected to continue towards the Odisha coast, slightly weakening before making landfall over southern West Bengal on the morning of 20 May with maximum sustained winds of 190-210 km/h.
  • Heavy rain and strong winds are expected over Odisha, West Bengal and southern Bangladesh (including the Dhaka area) on 19-21 May and a significant storm surge is forecast over West Bengal and southern Bangladesh on 20 May.
  • The Needs Assessment Working Group (NAWG) in Bangladesh estimates that up to 14.2 million people in coastal districts are likely to be affected, with nearly 1.4 million displaced and up to 600,000 houses damaged. Evacuation from high-risk areas is to begin today and is already underway in high-risk areas in India. 
India, Bangladesh - Tropical Cyclone AMPHAN update (ECHO 20 May 2020)Wed, 20 May 2020 13:04

  • Tropical Cyclone AMPHAN continues towards India's Odisha and West Benagal States and southern Bangladesh's Barisal Division. On 20 May at 0.00 UTC its centre was 195 km south-east of Bhubaneshwar City (Odisha), and 370 km south-southwest of Kolkata (West Bengal), with maximum sustained winds of 175 km/h.
  • According to media reports, national authorities in India are evacuating 1.1 to 1.2 million people from Odisha and from West Bengal, while 2 million in Bangladesh.
  • AMPHAN should make landfall over southern West Bangal (approximately 50 km south of Haldia and 100 km south of Kolkata) on 20 May, with maximum sustained winds up to 160 km/h before weakening as it moves over eastern West Bengal and western and central Bangladesh on 20-21 May.
  • A red alert for heavy rain and thuderstorms is in effect over West Bengal (India) and a storm surge and wind warnings over coastal districts of Bangladesh over the next 24 hours.
India, Bangladesh - Tropical Cyclone AMPHAN update (ECHO 22 May 2020)Fri, 22 May 2020 13:04

  • The cyclone AMPHAN, which made a landfall on 20 May has left behind a trail of destruction in the coastal areas both in India and Bangladesh, affecting tens of millions of people.
  • At least 77 deaths in India and 25 in Bangladesh have been reported so far. Over three million people in both countries continue to remain in community shelters.
  • Significant damage has been reported in thatched houses, standing crops, horticulture, fisheries, power and telecommunication facilities in cyclone-affected areas. Most areas remained without electricity and communication network and blocked roads limiting a rapid response.  
  • In Cox's Bazar, flooding and small landslides have caused damage to 300 shelters, blocked drains and damaged stairs, latrines and bridges.
  • Humanitarian partners and authorities are conducting the impact assessment to provide help for those affected.
  • Initial reports indicate that emergency shelter assistance, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and livelihood support are required.
  • Light to moderate rain with isolated thunderstorms and strong winds are forecast across north-eastern India, eastern, northern and northern-eastern Bangladesh.
  • EUR 1,500,000 from the Acute Large Emergency Response Tool (ALERT) was allocated on 21 May to respond to the humanitarian needs (WASH, food, shelter, NFIs, and livelihood support) in West Bengal state in India (EUR 500,000) and in Bangladesh (EUR 1,000,000). Also EUR 100,000 replenishment was decided for a forecast-based triggered action by IFRC the Red Crescent Society in Bangladesh.
India, Bangladesh - Tropical Cyclone AMPHAN update (ECHO 25 May 2020)Mon, 25 May 2020 13:07

  • Following the passage of Tropical Cyclone AMPHAN that made landfall between India and Bangladesh, the number of deaths has increased to 112.
  • In India, 86 people died, approximately 660,000 have been evacuated, thousands of houses have been damaged/destroyed and almost 2 million people remained without power in India. 
  • In Bangladesh,  26 people died, approximately 500,000 families have been displaced, 2,400,000 people  evacuated and at least 220,000 houses were damaged. 
  • Moderate to heavy rain with thunderstorms are forecast across north-east India, north and north-east Bangladesh. Warnings for heavy rain and thunderstorms have been issued over the States of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. 
  • The Copernicus EMS was activated in rapid mapping mode (EMSR 439) on 20 May and 3 satellite maps, concerning the impact assessment of Bashan Char island (Bangladesh), were produced.
Detailed event map. European Union, 2024. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

Updates on volcanic activity (Smithsonian)

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Estimated casualties (PAGER)

USGS estimates the number of casualties for each earthquake for the Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) product.
The graph shows the current fatalities estimate.

Exposed population

Data, images, links, services and documents

For this events, GDACS has links to information from the following sources: UNOSAT (1), EMSR (2), EC-JRC (38), (2), WMO (1), INFORM (2),