Approaching Cyclone Mocha leads to panic buying in Sittwe

By Admin 12 May 2023

DMG Newsroom
12 May 2023, Sittwe

Panic buying began in Sittwe as the central market and most shops in the town are expected to be closed temporarily due to Cyclone Mocha.

Shopkeepers at the central market have been shifting their stocks for fear that they will be damaged by either wind, rain or flooding.

“We have closed starting from today, and we are shifting stocks. We will be closed until May 14,” said Ma Khin Mar Win, who sells dried fish at the central market.

Residents are storing up basic foodstuffs such as rice, cooking oil, dried fish and eggs ahead of the storm, leading to price increases for some goods.

Daw Khaing Khaing, who owns a grocery in the central market, said: “There were lots of buyers yesterday. But there were more customers today. Some stocks have run out.”

The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology has said Cyclone Mocha is likely to make landfall between Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh and Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu, with the Arakan State capital Sittwe in its forecast path.

The Arakan Army (AA) is evacuating villagers in coastal areas, and providing assistance to them.

Porter U Akhin Gyi, who works at the central market, said: “We manual workers survive on daily wages. We will have no work when the market is closed. And we can’t afford to buy large amounts of food like others.”

The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System has issued a Red Storm Alert for Cyclone Mocha, and says more than 2 million people could be affected by the storm.

Mocha will bring maximum sustained wind speeds of 150-160 kph, gusting to 175 kph, during its peak period from Saturday evening into Sunday morning. Some 930,000 people in Arakan State, 170,000 people in Magwe and 440,000 people in Sagaing Region are at risk.