CHENNAI, Dec 4 (Reuters) – As Cyclone Michaung approaches, at least two individuals have lost their lives, and the runway of one of India’s busiest airports is submerged due to torrential rain. Two southern states are bracing for the impact of the severe cyclone, expected to hit within the next 24 hours.
The Indian weather office predicts that Cyclone Michaung will make landfall on the coast of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday morning. The cyclone is anticipated to bring sustained winds of 90-100 kph (56-62 mph), with gusts reaching up to 110 kph. Tragedy struck when heavy rain in the Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu caused a wall to collapse, resulting in two fatalities, according to C. Muthukumaran, the joint director of the state disaster management department.
In Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu and a significant electronics and manufacturing hub, floodwaters swept through the streets, leading to the closure of the city’s airport for the day due to severe weather conditions. Images circulated by the media depicted grounded planes with their wheels submerged in water amid relentless rainfall.
Heavy rains prompted Taiwan’s Foxconn (2317.TW) and Pegatron (4938.TW) to halt Apple (AAPL.O) iPhone production at their facilities near Chennai, as reported by sources familiar with the situation.
Numerous areas in Chennai were submerged in knee-deep water, and power outages were reported since Monday morning, reminiscent of the catastrophic floods in December 2015 that claimed around 290 lives.
Authorities in both states are on high alert, evacuating thousands from coastal areas, while fishermen have been warned against venturing out to sea. Closure notices for schools, colleges, offices, and banks have been issued for Monday and Tuesday in at least four districts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, due to adverse weather conditions.
India’s weather office predicts that parts of Andhra Pradesh will receive over 200 millimeters (8 inches) of rain in the next 24 hours.
In Andhra Pradesh, authorities have evacuated nearly 7,000 people in eight coastal districts, with preparations underway to evacuate a total of 28,000, contingent on the cyclone’s path and severity, according to a senior official in the state’s disaster management department. As of now, at least 800 people have been evacuated from Bapatla, the coastal town in Andhra Pradesh where the cyclone is expected to make landfall on Tuesday.