Comments on: Cyclone Nargis: What’s happening and how to donate

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:44:14 +0000

That caption goes with that photograph and is accurate. Yes, it did increase strength, apparently to Cat 4, before landfall. But that photograph is from prior to landfall.

By: MPM

MPM — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:12:22 +0000

I read that Nargis became a category 4 before making landfall? It’s hard to believe all this was from a category 1:Category One Hurricane:Winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr). Storm surge generally 4-5 ft above normal. No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Some damage to poorly constructed signs. Also, some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage. Hurricane Lili of 2002 made landfall on the Louisiana coast as a Category One hurricane. Hurricane Gaston of 2004 was a Category One hurricane that made landfall along the central South Carolina coast.

By: chris y

chris y — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:05:46 +0000

I assume the peninsular Burmese are political undesirables.Myanmar/Burma is a very multi-ethnic country, where the largest ethnicity is Burmese. I'm not an expert, but my understanding is that the junta is Burmese, and represses the other peoples quite fiercely. The people on the Thai border, which I guess covers the southern peninsula, are mainly Karen, and they've been fighting a war of independence against the centre for decades. It wouldn't be at all surprising if the junta wanted to cut of disaster aid to these people to gain military advantage.