2009 November, 11th

Phil Butler

As Cyclone Phyan edges closer to landfall in Mumbai or Muhava, India people there brace themselves for the storm. Torrential rains brought on by Phyan have already been the cause of over 70 deaths from landslides. Tamil Nadu, a southern state, has been pummeled by heavy monsoon rains for days now, and it is expected to be worse for Mumbai and coastal villages. Updated satellite imagery reveals Phyan losing intensity. Rain and flooding still of major concern.

According to meteorologists, Cyclone Phyan is strengthening out in the Arabian Sea, and they predict it will hit Mumbai sometimes in the late afternoon Thursday. At this moment the storm is 400 km South Southwest of Mumbai, with sustained winds of 75 km per hour. Meteorologists and officials are not so concerned with Phyan’s winds as they are the heavy monsoon rains, and the effects of flooding. Heavy rainfall is already intensifying in Mumbai and along the path of the storm. An Orange alert has already been issued, and government offices have already been closed.

Citizens of Mumbai proper are not as threatened by Phyan’s rain and potential flooding as people in the neighboring Gujarat state. Authorities there are keeping vigil over 175 villages in the 12 coastal districts, which are particularly susceptible to flooding, erosion and mud slides. The Indian Meteorological Department site is down, obviously due to over loaded servers from inquiries, but we will update this story as the situation changes, and new information is issued by them.

Update: Just in from Thaindian News, Goa Coast Guard Commandant N. Saxena told reporters there that some 80 fishing trawlers are missing in the Arabian Sea. The coast guard has initiated search and rescue to find and aid some 800 crew members on these vessels. Despite warnings not to sail, these fishermen braved the storm any way.

Latest Update: Satellite images via NOAA, and the Indian Meteorological Department below, show Phyan this morning, and just a moment ago.

NOAA satellite imagery of Phyan early this morning

IMD satellite from moments ago.

• 2009/09/11 -- APCO Or Weber Shandwick For India’s PR?

About the Author

Phil Butler is editor-in-chief of Everything PR and senior partner at Pamil Visions PR. He’s a widely cited authority on beta startups, search engines and public relations issues, and he has covered tech news since 2004. Phil wrote in the past for ReadWriteWeb, Mashable, Profy, SitePoint, Search Engine Journal, AltSearchEngines. Follow Phil on Twitter or send him an email at phil [at] pamil-visions [dot] com.

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