Bangladesh: A History of Deadly Cyclones

In 131 years, Bangladesh has lost 200 million people to 80 cyclones, according to a tally by Chinese state-run media. (The territory now called Bangladesh has held different names during that time, including East Pakistan.)

A separate tally has it that nine of the world's 13 deadliest hurricanes have struck in the Bay of Bengal, which borders India and Bangladesh.

The toll from Cyclone Sidr, which made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane Nov. 15, is still being tallied. Bangladesh is among the most vulnerable nations for storms of this kind, due to the ease with which low-lying areas flood, and its densely populated coastline.

Here's a look at some of the five most deadly storms to have struck, according to figures from the Xinhua General News Service report and elsewhere:

• Nov. 1, 1876 - About 200,000 people died.
• Nov. 12, 1970 - Up to 500,000 people died.
• May 24, 1985 - 11,000 people died.
• April 29, 1991 - 140,000 peole died.
• Nov. 29, 1997 - 150,000 people died.

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