Cyclone Phailin claims five lives

Five people have lost their lives when 300 kilometre-per-hour winds and torrential rains swept across the Bay of Bengal as Cyclone Phailin struck the Indian coast.

Mass evacuations in the states of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh kicked off the past days as weather predictions warned of storms and increasing sea water levels. Observers estimated half a million people were moved from their homes and housed in schools as public buildings transformed into temporary shelters. The storm threatens to devastate farmland and fishing hamlets. Disaster management officials say 12 million people are in the cyclone’s path. The airport at Orissa's state capital was closed after strong winds made landing difficult.

India is still recovering from a similar cyclone in 1999 cyclone, which wrecked havoc and claimed 10,000 lives as mudslides and fallen trees swept the country's coastline. 

Aid agencies and disaster management teams hope that the early warnings issued before Cyclone Phailin struck will result in much less casualties.