Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
![]() The Bhola cyclone on November 11, 1970, at 0858 UTC. | |
Formed | November 7, 1970 |
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Dissipated | November 13, 1970 |
Highest winds | 10-minute sustained: 185 km/h (115 mph) 1-minute sustained: 205 km/h (130 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 966 hPa (mbar); 28.53 inHg |
Fatalities | 300,000–500,000 [1] (Deadliest tropical cyclone of all time) |
Damage | $86.4 million (1970 USD) |
Areas affected | India, East Pakistan |
Part of the 1970 North Indian Ocean cyclone season |
The 1970 Bhola cyclone was the strongest storm of the 1970 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. The Bhola cyclone made landfall in East Pakistan (today known as Bangladesh). Since the Bhola cyclone killed from 300,000 to 500,000 people, the Bhola cyclone holds the world record as the deadliest storm. Most of the people that were killed, were killed in East Pakistan (Bangladesh), because of the storm surge that caused flooding.
The Bhola cyclone was also one of the deadliest natural disaster in modern times. It also affected India and left $86.4 million in damage.[1] This cyclone was the sixth cyclonic storm of the 1970 North Indian Ocean cyclone season.