At least six people were killed as Cyclone Mora made landfall in Bangladesh on Tuesday, packing winds of upto 150 kilometres per hour and damaging several houses, with authorities scrambling to evacuate over half a million people from the coastal areas.
The storm made landfall on the coast between Cox's Bazar and the main port city of Chittagong at 6 am (local time), the Bangladesh Meteorological Department said in a special weather bulletin.
The cyclone reportedly destroyed Myanmar refugee camps set up in Cox's Bazar. Bangladeshi authorities have issued the highest level of warning signal on a scale of 10 for two maritime ports after Mora developed into a severe cyclonic storm.
The Indian coast along Odisha, West Bengal and the mainland in Assam, Meghalaya and other north-eastern states brace for heavy rainfalls, as the cyclone makes its landfall on the coastline.
One of the six persons died of a heart attack during the storm while others were killed by falling trees and houses in Cox's Bazar and Rangamati, local media reported.
Under the cyclone's influence, gusty or squally wind with rain or thundershowers were continuing over North Bay and the coastal districts and maritime ports of Bangladesh, the Daily Star reported.
“Wind speed is estimated at 130 kmph in Saint Martins Island and 150 kmph at Cox’s Bazar port after it hit the area in between 6 am and 7 am,” Cox’s Bazar Met official AKM Nazmul Haque said.
All flights were suspended to and from Chittagong international airport and the Cox's Bazar airports.
Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet on Guard
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had on Monday advised fishermen along the coast of West Bengal to stay off the waters.
The Indian Navy's Eastern fleet ships have been put on the highest state of readiness so that help can be extended promptly in case cyclone ‘Mora’ hits parts of Bangladesh.
It is likely to turn into deep depression and make a landfall in Bangladesh by Tuesday afternoon or evening. Indian Navy Eastern Fleet ships are at the highest state of readiness to render assistance if required.Senior Indian Navy Official
India warned of heavy rain in the northeastern states of Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh on Monday, as Mora moved further up the Bay of Bengal. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has asked the state governments to keep a close watch and take precautionary measures in the areas where warnings have been issued.
Millions Evacuated
In an attempt to reduce damage expected to be cause by Mora’s landfall, Bangladesh on Monday launched a massive evacuation campaign along its southern coastline.
The met office has issued the highest level of warning signal on a scale of 10 for two maritime ports after Mora developed into a severe cyclonic storm.
The cyclone warning for the ports in Chittagong and Cox's Bazar has been upgraded to great danger signal number 10, the weather office said in a special bulletin. The storm system is likely to intensify further as it moves in a northerly direction and make landfall in Chittagong and Cox's Bazar tomorrow morning, it said.
Cyclone Mora is expected to cause thundershowers accompanied by gusts in maritime ports and coastal areas. Impoverished Bangladesh, hit by cyclones every year, warned that some coastal areas were “likely to be inundated by a storm surge of four to five feet (1.2 to 1.5 metres)“ above normal because of approaching Cyclone Mora.
Local administrations and voluntary agencies in 19 southeastern districts have asked people to move to cyclone shelters. We expect most of them to have moved to safety by late Monday eveningOfficial, Disaster Management Ministry
About 10 million of Bangladesh's population of 160 million live in coastal areas.
Director of Disaster Management Abu Syed Mohammad Hashim said medical and rescue teams with personnel from various agencies including armed forces have been kept ready for immediate movement.
Officials in southeastern port city of Chittagong said orders have been issued to suspend operations at the country's main port.
Inland water transport authorities have also suspended operation of ferries or motor launches on internal routes, and asked those at the coastlines and in the middle of river routes to take shelter immediately.
The met office bulletin said the cyclonic storm over north bay and adjoining east central bay intensified further "into a severe cyclonic storm".
Authorities said they were monitoring weather developments and ready for any situation.
Bangladesh is hit by storms, many of them devastating, every year. Half a million people had their lives disrupted in coastal areas such as Barisal and Chittagong in May 2016.
It is still recovering from flash floods that hit the northeast, affecting millions of people, in April. Rice prices have reached record highs and state reserves are at 10-year lows in the wake of flooding that wiped out around 7,00,000 tonnes of rice.
(With inputs from PTI and Reuters)
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