Myanmar lowers cyclone warning
Sunday, 19 April 2009
YANGON, April 18, (AFP): Myanmar weather officials Saturday said a cyclone that earlier hit neighbouring Bangladesh had weakened and was unlikely to endanger lives, but maintained a warning to avoid the west coast.
State media said the threat from Cyclone Bijli had been downgraded from mid- to low-level and could by-pass the country's west coast completely.
"The force of the cyclone has lowered to a 'yellow' threat from an 'orange' one and it is forecast that the cyclone is not now moving towards Myanmar's coast," the New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported.
The military-run government's meteorological department said the weakening cyclone was now expected to pass over northwest Chin state within 12 hours from Saturday evening but said region's mountainous terrain would dull its effects.
However it predicted the cyclone would cause heavy rains across large parts of the country and urged fishermen to avoid going out to sea until it passed.
The national Red Cross said volunteers were on standby in case of injuries.
State media said the threat from Cyclone Bijli had been downgraded from mid- to low-level and could by-pass the country's west coast completely.
"The force of the cyclone has lowered to a 'yellow' threat from an 'orange' one and it is forecast that the cyclone is not now moving towards Myanmar's coast," the New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported.
The military-run government's meteorological department said the weakening cyclone was now expected to pass over northwest Chin state within 12 hours from Saturday evening but said region's mountainous terrain would dull its effects.
However it predicted the cyclone would cause heavy rains across large parts of the country and urged fishermen to avoid going out to sea until it passed.
The national Red Cross said volunteers were on standby in case of injuries.