Cyclone Fengal Death Toll Rises to 20 in South Asia

The death toll from Cyclone Fengal has reached 20 after it battered Sri Lanka and southern India, bringing heavy rain and flooding to the region. The storm made landfall in Tamil Nadu, India, on Saturday, where it caused intense rainfall, including the highest 24-hour rainfall in 30 years in Puducherry. Although Fengal weakened to a low-pressure system by Monday, it left significant destruction in its wake.

In Sri Lanka, where the cyclone skirted the island on Friday, the storm triggered landslides and flooding, resulting in 17 fatalities. Nearly 470,000 people have been displaced and are taking shelter in temporary relief camps. In India, three deaths were reported, primarily due to electrocution, though the overall damage in Tamil Nadu was described as minimal. Efforts are ongoing to rescue a family of seven feared trapped by a landslide.

The cyclone’s aftermath included flooding of roads and the closure of schools in parts of southern India, with weather officials warning of continued flash flood risks. Cyclones, or tropical storms, are becoming more powerful and frequent as a result of climate change, which is increasing sea surface temperatures and atmospheric moisture—both of which fuel more intense storms and heavier rainfall.

While the region is accustomed to cyclones, improved forecasting and evacuation efforts have helped reduce fatalities in recent years, despite the rising intensity of these storms.