Myanmar warns against possible storm in western coastal areas

YANGON, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's Meteorology and Hydrology Department has warned against possible severe storm over the country's western Rakhine coastal areas next week, official media reported Sunday.

Depression over the southeast of Bay of Bengal has intensified into cyclonic storm "Mahasen" which centered at 800 kilometers southwest of Kawthoung, it said, adding that coded as yellow stage, the cyclonic storm is likely to turn northeastwards beginning next Monday afternoon and cross Myanmar's Rakhine coast (northern part) and Bangladesh coast on next Thursday morning.

The department has suggested inshore and offshore fishing trawlers and vessels off and along Myanmar coastal areas to avoid the storm, warning people residing along the storm route to put themselves on full alert over the first four days of next week.

The department also warned of heavy rain in central region, especially Magway, Sagaing and Mandalay with possible danger of landslide and raging torrent when the cyclone passes through such Rakhine coastal areas as Maungtaw and Sittway at a wind speed of as high as 190 kilometers per hour.

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