The coastlines of Bangladesh and Myanmar have been struck by a formidable cyclone, which rapidly intensified to the strength comparable to a category-five storm.

Cyclone Mocha spared the world's largest refugee camp in Cox's Bazar from a direct hit, contrary to earlier concerns. However, it still resulted in the destruction of numerous makeshift shelters within the camp. At least five people have lost their lives in Myanmar due to the cyclone. As of now, there have been no reported casualties in Bangladesh.

By late Sunday, the storm had largely subsided. Kamrul Hasan, Bangladesh's disaster official, stated that the cyclone had caused minimal significant damage in the country. Nevertheless, the region is still experiencing landslides and floods.

Myanmar appears to have borne a more direct impact, as the storm wreaked havoc on houses and disrupted power lines in the western Rakhine state. Camps accommodating displaced Rohingya individuals in Rakhine state were also severely damaged.

According to reports, a 14-year-old boy tragically lost his life when a tree fell on him in the affected state. Additionally, there have been accounts of buildings sustaining damage and collapsing throughout the country.

Significant disruptions to electricity and wireless connections were observed in the state capital, Sittwe. Online footage depicted a telecommunication tower being toppled by strong winds as the cyclone approached. Videos shared on social media showcased roofs being torn off houses and billboards being swept away from buildings in Yangon, accompanied by heavy rainfall. Images from the city of Mrauk U displayed palm trees bending under the force of the wind, metal roofing sheets being carried into the streets, and a few individuals hastily seeking shelter in storm shelters.

The Myanmar Red Cross Society has announced its preparations for a major emergency response considering the situation. Prior to the storm, authorities in Bangladesh successfully evacuated 750,000 individuals. As the cyclone grew in intensity, the streets of Cox's Bazar became deserted, with darkened skies, intensifying winds, and heavy rainfall.

A school was transformed into a temporary cyclone shelter, where hundreds of people sought refuge. Among them were mothers with infants, young children, the elderly, and the vulnerable. The classrooms became crowded, with people sleeping on desks or finding space underneath them.

Arriving at the shelter by rickshaws or on foot, the evacuees brought along their livestock, including cattle, chickens, and goats, as well as mats for sleeping. These individuals had made a difficult decision to leave their homes, coming from fishing and coastal villages located up to two hours away.

Sumi Akter, who resides on a riverbank, expressed her reluctance, stating, "I didn't want to leave my house." Sumi and the people we encountered here have experienced several cyclones in recent years and have become resigned to the recurring pattern of abandoning their homes to the mercy of nature.

There is a concern among Sumi and others that storm surges, reaching up to four meters, could inundate villages in low-lying areas. They fear their homes might be submerged.

Sumi expressed her wish for stronger homes, saying, "I wish the homes we lived in were built more robustly." We had met Jannat, a 17-year-old, at the same shelter the day before, and she also shared her apprehension about the fate of her house on the riverbank.

Just last year, her house was destroyed by another cyclone called Sitrang, forcing her to spend whatever little money she had on its repairs.

"How can I continue living if this keeps happening? I cannot afford to rebuild it - we are extremely impoverished," she said.

The force of nature was also disproportionately impacting the vulnerable population residing in the world's largest refugee camp nearby.

The government of Bangladesh has imposed restrictions on Rohingya refugees, preventing them from leaving the camps or constructing permanent structures.

As the cyclone struck, the refugees sought shelter in vulnerable bamboo huts with tarpaulin roofs. Some were relocated to community shelters within the camps, which provided limited protection. Over 1,300 shelters, as well as 16 mosques and learning centers, were damaged by the strong winds. Trees within the camps were uprooted, and two landslides caused additional damage.

The tarpaulin covering Mohammed Ayub's shelter was torn off by the gusts of wind. Now, he and his family of eight are exposed to the elements, enduring wet and miserable conditions.

Having lived in fear of the potential consequences of Cyclone Mocha, Mohammed expressed relief that the camps were not directly impacted by the storm.

Mizanur Rahman, representing the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, stated that, to his knowledge, there were no casualties among the camp residents resulting from the cyclone.

Meteorologists issued a warning that Cyclone Mocha could be the most intense storm witnessed in Bangladesh in nearly two decades.

According to the Bangladeshi meteorological department, the cyclone's center had a maximum sustained wind speed of approximately 195km/h (120mph) within a radius of 75km (45 miles). The gusts and squalls were recorded at 215km/h.

In anticipation of the cyclone's arrival, nearby airports were closed, fishermen were instructed to halt their operations, and 1,500 shelters were established. Residents from vulnerable areas were relocated to safer locations.

In 2008, Cyclone Nargis devastated the southern coastal regions of Myanmar, claiming the lives of nearly 140,000 people and severely impacting millions more. The majority of the fatalities occurred when a 3.5-meter-high wave struck the low-lying Irrawaddy Delta.