Thousands Evacuate Ahead of Cyclone Helen

Indian officials are evacuating coastlines as Cyclone Helen approaches.

At least 25,000 people have been evacuated and thousands more are expected to leave before the storm makes landfall on Friday.

Cyclone Helen is tracking to hit four districts of India Friday with winds up to 68 miles an hour. The slow moving storm is producing surges of 5 feet already and heavy rainfall is expected to cause flooding in low-lying areas.

Helen is reporting maximum wind gusts of 80 miles per hour.

India’s eastern coast was hit last month by Cyclone Phailin that killed 25 people and destroyed tens of thousands of homes. Officials say the evacuation of a million people ahead of the storm kept the death toll low.