We've endured deadly hurricanes recently, including Helene, Ian, Maria and Katrina.
But on Nov. 12, 1970, 55 years ago today, the Great Bhola Cyclone pushed into what was then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). An estimated storm surge up to 35 feet, on top of a high tide, swept over the flat, low-lying region at night, leaving widespread destruction in its wake.
An estimated 300,000 to 500,000 people were killed, making it the deadliest known tropical cyclone in history. Over 45% of the population of 167,000 in the city of Tazumuddin were killed, according to the University of Rhode Island.
Warnings were issued by Pakistan's meteorological service, but not many people sought shelter, and others lacked a nearby shelter or had no way of reaching one.
Three-quarters of the world's deadliest tropical cyclones have occurred in the Bay of Bengal. Its shape and shallow floor make it the planet's deadliest storm surge zone.
More recently, Cyclone Nargis claimed an estimated 138,000 lives when it pushed into Myanmar in May 2008.
Slow emergency response by the government eventually led to a declaration of independence as Bangladesh in March 1971. Pakistan officially recognized Bangladesh the following December after a nine-month war.
Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him onBluesky,X (formerly Twitter)andFacebook.
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