Cyclone Amphan likely to hit Bangladesh on May 20

Cyclone Amphan is likely to intensify into a "very severe" cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours and cross coastal areas between Sagar Islands (West Bengal, India) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) during the afternoon/evening of May 20, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said today.

In its latest statement, the IMD said Amphan intensified into a severe cyclonic storm at 9am today and was 1,260km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), 990 km south of Paradip (Indian state of Odisha) and 1,140km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal).

"It is very likely to intensify further into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm during the next 12 hours. It is very likely to move northwards slowly during next 24 hours and then re-curve north-northeastwards and move fast across northwest Bay of Bengal and cross West Bengal/Bangladesh coastal areas during afternoon or evening of May 20," the IMD said.