Cyclone Mocha could accelerate impacts of climate change, experts warn

By Admin 24 May 2023

DMG Newsroom
24 May 2023, Sittwe

Cyclone Mocha has destroyed many trees in urban and rural parts of Arakan State and beyond, and temperatures will rise and drought may occur in the coming days, officials from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) and environmentalists have warned.

A DMG reporter saw broken and completely destroyed trees in Sittwe and Ponnagyun townships, and the Mayu mountain range in Rathedaung and Maungdaw townships, after the storm hit Arakan State.

“After Cyclone Mocha made landfall, the temperature is rising all over Myanmar, including Arakan State,” said U Hla Tun, director of the DMH. “Many forests in Arakan State were destroyed by the cyclonic storm, so it may not be noticeable this year, but in the next few years, climate change may become quite severe. There may be changes in temperature and rainfall.”

In order for the damaged trees and forests to return to their original state, it is necessary to plant trees with strong growth in the short term as soon as possible, environmentalists say.

“The nature of Arakan State may become quite bad due to the destruction of forests by the storm. Rising temperatures and drought in Arakan State may become worse. Therefore, it is important to replant trees in every town and village,” said U Yan Naung Soe, chairman of the Rakhine State Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association.

Ma Hla Moe Tayar Hlaing, a member of the executive committee of Green Sittwe Group, said that due to Cyclone Mocha, the weather conditions in Arakan State may be worse than before, and it is necessary to expand the planting of trees, and the relevant authorities should protect the forests more than before.

“In recent years, there has been a rise in temperature and drought in Arakan State. Due to the cyclone, the forest trees in Arakan State have been destroyed, and the weather may become worse than before. The simplest way to prevent climate change is to plant more trees. The government should deal strictly with the illegal extraction of timber from the forests,” she added.

Deforestation, along with drought, could lead to impure drinking water, which could lead to increased food and water scarcity and health problems, she said.

Cyclone Mocha, which made landfall near Sittwe with destructive force on May 14, destroyed many homes and businesses in Arakan State.