1978 Sri Lanka cyclone

The 1978 Sri Lanka Cyclone (JTWC designation: 04B) was the strongest tropical cyclone to strike Sri Lanka's Eastern province since modern records began.[1] The cyclone formed on November 20, 1978 and attained peak intensity on November 23, 1978 right before making landfall on Trincomalee . In Sri Lanka's Eastern Province, Akkaraipattu, Ninthavur, Kalmunai, Kaluwanchikuddy, Pattiruppu, Chettipalayam, Thalankudah, Kattankudy, Batticaloa, Eravur and Kalkudah were the most affected due to their position in the vicinity of the cyclone..[2]

Very severe cyclonic storm (IMD scale)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Cyclone 04B at peak intensity
FormedNovember 19, 1978
DissipatedNovember 29, 1978
Highest winds3-minute sustained: 140 km/h (85 mph)
1-minute sustained: 205 km/h (125 mph)
Lowest pressure953 hPa (mbar); 28.14 inHg
Fatalities~1000
Areas affectedEastern Province, Sri Lanka
Part of the 1978 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

Due to the cyclone, approximately a thousand people died, more than one million people affected, nearly 250,000 houses partially and completely damaged, 240 school buildings damaged, one fifth of Batticaloa's fishing fleet destroyed, 9 of the 11 paddy stores destroyed and 90 percent of the coconut plantation (28,000 odd acres of coconut plantation) in the Batticaloa district destroyed. The Sri Lankan government spent over 600 million Sri Lankan rupees in relief efforts in the aftermath of the disaster. A tropical cyclone report noted that over 130 electrical lines were downed and copious amounts of religious buildings were reduced to rubble. The cyclone resulted in people being left without electricity and water. Many houses suffered severe structural damage due to the excessive speed of the cyclone.[3][4]

References
  1. "Disaster Profile - Sri Lanka". Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  2. Neelavannan (1979). 12 மணி நேரம் (The 12 hours). Jaffna, Sri Lanka. p. 29.
  3. "Disaster Information Management system in Sri Lanka". www.desinventar.lk.
  4. "Batticaloa's blackest day". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
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