Similar 1991 Bangladesh cyclone, Typhoon Nina, Great Hurricane of 1780, Cyclone Nargis, Cyclone Sidr | ||
The Great Backerganj Cyclone of 1876 (October 29 – November 1, 1876) was one of the deadliest cyclones in history. It hit the coast of Backerganj (near Meghna estuary) in present-day Barisal, Bangladesh, killing about 200,000 people, half of whom were drowned by the storm surge, and the remainder died in the resultant famine.
The cyclone formed over the SE Bay of Bengal as a depression near 10.0°N and 89.0°E on October 27, intensified into a cyclonic storm near 15.0°N and 89.0°E on October 30 and subsequently intensified into a severe cyclonic storm with a core of hurricane winds. The cyclone moved north up to the North Bay and then NNE. On October 31, the cyclone made landfall on Backerganj.
The maximum wind was estimated at 220 km/h (140 mph) and the surge height was 3–13.6 m (9.8–44.6 ft).