Cyclone Heading Towards West Coast of Burma

Date : April 29, 2008

Embassy of the United States of America
Rangoon, Burma
110 University Ave.
Kamayut Township
Rangoon

Tel:  (95-1) 536-509

Email: ConsularRangoo@state.gov
Website: http://burma.usembassy.gov

This warden message is to inform the American community of a developing cyclone in the Bay of Bengal.  According to the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), as of Tuesday, April 29th at 6:30 a.m., the center of the cyclone was located approximately 665 miles south-southwest of Calcutta, India.  Cyclone Nargis is currently forecast to move towards the northeast and intensify over the next 72 hours.  It could hit landfall in the West Coast of Burma around May 2.  With the warm waters of the Bay, the JTWC expects the typhoon to grow in strength before it hits landfall in Burma.

Current tracking information has the cyclone approaching the coast of Burma near Ngapali, Thandwe and Kingmaw in Rakhine State, then heading east towards the towns of Thegon, Paungde, and Nattalin in the Bago Division.  The path of the cyclone could change and hit landfall closer to Sittwe, Pathein, Ngwe Saung beach and Chaung Tha beach.  As a result, the Department of State urges that American citizens avoid these areas.

U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Burma are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy, either through the State Department’s travel registration website https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs, or via the Embassy’s website http://burma.usembassy.gov.  Americans in Burma unable to access the internet are welcome to register in person or by telephone.  

The Embassy is located at 110 University Ave, Kamayut Township, Rangoon.  The Embassy's phone numbers are (95-1) 536-509, 536-756, and 538-038.  The consular section’s extension is 4240, and email address is consularrangoo@state.gov.  The Embassy’s after-hours emergency numbers are the same as above, all followed by extension 4014, and the after-hours mobile phone number is 09-512-4330.  The Embassy’s hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal and Burmese holidays).