As night fell, the extent of the damage in Sittwe was not clear. Earlier in the day, high winds crumpled cell phone towers, cutting off communications in much of the area
The evacuation of nearly 500,000 people is expected to start Saturday in Bangladesh with more than 500 cyclone shelters ready to provide refuge to those moved from their homes
The military is increasingly using airstrikes to counter a widespread armed struggle against its rule, which began when it seized power from an elected government in 2021
The country has been in turmoil since the military’s February 2021 seizure of power prompted nationwide protests that security forces suppressed with deadly force
