It's late evening on November 12, 1970, on Manpura Island in East Pakistan.

Outside his family home, 18-year-old Mohamed Abdul-Hai struggles to hold up a plank of wood as a strong

gust of wind threatens to rip it from his hands. Struggling, Muhammad finally manages to press the wood

into place over a window. He pulls out a hammer and nails the plank into place. Cyclones are

irregular occurrence in this part of the world, and most people in

East Pakistan are well used to preparing for the storms. On hearing news on the radio of an

approaching cyclone, Muhammad's extended family immediately left their wooden cabins and gathered

at Muhammad's farmhouse, which is one of the few brick buildings on the island. Muhammad's mother cooked a large meal to feed all 20 people sheltering there, and the mood was

initially convivial. But as evening fell, the winds began blowing even more strongly than usual,

until Muhammad decided he had to go outside to secure the windows. Now, when Muhammad is satisfied, the windows won't go in.

He dashes through the mud to check on his family's livestock.

He's not gone far when a sudden gust of wind blows him off his feet and lands on his back in the wet earth.

Cursing, Muhammad decides the animals will have to take their chances in the storm.

He rushes back toward the house.

He can see his mother in the doorway, imploring him to hurry.

But as he reaches the building, he hears the roar of water.

Muhammad and his mother look around in confusion.

The house is a half mile from shore.

But then Muhammad realizes with horror that a vast

wave is rolling towards them. The sea has been whipped into such a frenzy that a mighty storm

surge is about to sweep away the forest, the fields, the livestock, and his home.

This huge storm will come to be known as the Bola Cyclone. It causes the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people in East Pakistan, including 19

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