No article found for “File:CME Pune.png”.

2023 Lewe tornado

☆ Save On Wikipedia ↗
2023 Aung Myin Kone–Tada U tornado
The tornado in Naypyidaw near Aung Myin Kone and Tada U.
The tornado near Aung Myin Kone and Tada U.
Meteorological history
Formed21 April 2023 (2023-04-21) 18:10
Dissipated21 April 2023 (2023-04-21) 18:50
Duration40 minutes
F3 tornado
on the Fujita scale
Overall effects
Fatalities8
Injuries128
DamageUnknown
Areas affected
Aung Myin Kone–Tada U
Part of the Tornadoes of 2023

On the evening of 21 April 2023, a large and highly rare stovepipe tornado struck Lewe Township within the Naypyidaw Union Territory of Myanmar. The severe weather event resulted in significant casualties, destroying over 200 homes across two central villages. The disaster led to eight documented fatalities and left over 128 people injured, making it one of the deadliest and most destructive tornadic events recorded in modern Burmese history. [1]

Background

Major tornadoes are exceptionally rare in Myanmar, with severe tornadic activity typically restricted to brief, weak events during the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon transitional periods.[2] In April 2023, mainland Southeast Asia experienced record-breaking, intense heatwaves that causes tornado. The extreme surface temperatures, combined with sudden localized atmospheric instability, created a highly volatile environment capable of producing severe convective storms and severe tornadogenesis in the flat terrain of the central plains near Naypyidaw.

The tornado hit Aung Myin Kone and Tada U villages on Naypyitaw's southern outskirts at around 6:10 p.m. on Friday, Thet Paing Soe, a leading member of the Doh Lewe charity organization, told The Associated Press.[3]

Formation & Appearance

The tornado at peak intensity, taken on car at the road.

This tornado is unique because the tornado shifted from cone to stovepipe shape when picked up dust and due to lighting, it appeared as blue lit, making it looks like stovepipe funnel. Due to lighting and atmosphere, it appeared as blue lit funnel rather than white funnel with dust. This tornado began as rope, then shifted to thin cone as matures and it looked like stovepipe at peak. This tornado dissipated when dust remaining. Due to stovepipe shape and occurrence during sunset, it appeared as highly photogenic stovepipe funnel rather than white funnel.

Impact and damage

Satellite view of damage

The tornado touched down at approximately 6:10 p.m. local time and remained on the ground for an estimated 40 minutes, sweeping directly through the southern outskirts of Lewe Township. The tornado impacted Aung Myin Kone (အောင်မြင်ကုန်း) and Tada U (တံတားဦး)[4]

The storm completely leveled 232 households. Because traditional domestic structures in the region were constructed primarily of wood, bamboo and corrugated tin roofing, they lacked the structural integrity to withstand violent tornadic winds. Beyond residential properties, the severe winds caused the total collapse of several vital community structures, including a local public school, rural healthcare clinic and two historic Buddhist monasteries.

Local rescue groups and charity organizations confirmed that 8 individuals were killed during the storm's passage.[4] An additional 109 individuals sustained injuries and required transport to regional medical facilities.

This tornado also traveled path of 4.7 km and 528 yards wide, as it measured on Google Earth.

Aftermath

Following the storm's dissipation, search and rescue operations were launched by the Myanmar Fire Services Department, local police units and emergency charity organizations. Heavy clearance equipment was deployed to remove debris from blocked transit routes to allow emergency vehicles passage.

The injured people were evacuated to nearby medical centers, including the Lewe General Hospital and the 1,000-bed General Hospital in Naypyidaw; however, two people were died later on hospital 20 hours later after tornado, causing two additional deaths. State officials visited the impacted sites the following morning to coordinate aid distribution and structural reconstruction plans. Temporary displacement camps and emergency supply distribution centers were established at uninjured local monasteries to provide food, clean water and shelter to the displaced residents from the tornado.

128 people were taken to hospital after villages on Naypyidaw’s southern outskirts were hit on Friday evening and 232 homes destroyed.[5]

The Chairman of the State Administration Council, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, urged to re-develop systematically for the housings that were destroyed in the strong wind and tornado happened in Lewe township, Naypyidaw.[6]

See also

References

  1. "6 killed, over 100 injured after tornado hits central Myanmar". The Straits Times. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  2. "Tornado in central Myanmar kills 8, injures 128". Xinhua News Agency. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  3. "Rare big tornado near Myanmar capital kills eight". Al Arabiya English. 22 April 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  4. "Rare big tornado near Myanmar capital kills eight". Associated Press via Al Arabiya. 22 April 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  5. "8 killed by rare, giant tornado near Myanmar capital". South China Morning Post. 22 April 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2026.
  6. "NP News". www.npnewsmm.com. Retrieved 6 June 2026.