(Bloomberg) — As the biggest cyclone to hit South Asia in two decades loomed over the Bay of Bengal, emergency relief officials realized they were facing a nightmare: They needed to evacuate more than 5 million people to safety at the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Right after the weather office elevated the cyclone warning to the maximum on Wednesday (May 20), Najmul Alam, a government official in Bangladesh, had the onerous task of evacuating hundreds to storm shelters while at the same time attempting to keep social distancing rules in place. He's one of many that struggled with the same problem.

Alam ordered his team to evacuate residents to safety, but many initially decided to stay home, assuming the storm would dissipate. As rain and wind gathered strength, thousands rushed out for help, overwhelming the facilities. By the end of the week, millions across the region took shelter in relief centers as Cyclone Amphan caused widespread damage in India and Bangladesh, killing about 100 people.