HudHud Causes Extensive Damage: AIR

According to catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide, very severe cyclone Hudhud made landfall on Sunday near Visakhapatnam with sustained wind speeds of 117 knots. Hudhud quickly weakened to a depression after landfall, according to the India Meteorological Department. Although the storm is continuing to weaken, many regions are still being warned to watch for strong winds and flooding.

“The majority of the damage caused by Cyclone Hudhud is concentrated in Visakhapatnam, where the storm made landfall,” said Anna Trevino, scientist at AIR Worldwide. “Visakhapatnam, also known as Vizag, is the largest city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and the third largest city on the east coast of India. It has a population of 2 million.”

Currently, there is almost no way in or out of the city due to blocked roads and restricted rail traffic, and virtually no communication is possible with or within the city. Visakhapatnam International Airport operations have been suspended due to damage to the terminal and the destruction of radar and navigational aids, the city’s port operations have been suspended. Power and cell phone signals are out across the Andhra Pradesh districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam.

According to AIR, many of the commercial buildings in Asilmetta, Sampath Vinayaka Temple Road, Maddilapalem, and Muralinagar in Visakhapatnam have been badly damaged. Roofs and walls have been ripped off some residential buildings.

Schools and colleges in the area remain closed. A reported 48,000 residential homes in Odisha’s southern districts are badly damaged, along with hundreds of electric poles, and 24 transformers.

Source: AIR Worldwide.