Extreme Cyclones Kill Far Fewer People Today

Bangladesh has dramatically reduced cyclone deaths over the past decades, proving that early warnings and evacuation systems can save lives even as storms intensify.

“We are not helpless against natural disasters — the right systems protect entire communities,” said researcher Hannah Ritchie.

In 1970, Cyclone Bhola killed more than 300,000 people, but since 2007 no cyclone in Bangladesh has caused more than 200 deaths despite several Category 4 and 5 storms. Investments in forecasting, alarms, cyclone shelters and organised evacuation procedures have transformed one of the world’s most vulnerable coastlines into a global model for disaster resilience, showing how preparation can turn deadly events into survivable ones.