As Cyclone Mora hits Bangladesh on Tuesday, at least 6 persons have been killed. Speeding winds of up to 150 kilometres per hour have damaged several houses. The authorities have been struggling to evacuate over half a million people from the coastal areas.
According to reports, the severe cyclonic storm Mora moved northward over North Bay and started crossing Cox’s Bazar- Chittagong coast at 6:00 AM (local time). It is likely to move in a northerly direction further. Notably, one out of the 6 people died of a heart-attack during the storm while the others were killed as trees and houses started to demolish in the worsening weather.
“Wind speed is estimated at 130 kmph in Saint Martins Island and 150 kmph Cox’s Bazar port after it hit the area in between 6 AM and 7 AM,” Cox’s Bazar Met official A K M Nazmul Haque said.
Notably, all flights were suspended to and from Chittagong international airport and the Cox’s Bazar airports. As many as 300,000 people had been taken to shelters in more than ten districts most vulnerable to the cyclone.
The people were moved out to at least 400 cyclone shelters or safer places like schools and government offices in the coastal areas,” a disaster management ministry spokesman said.
Bangladesh is often hit by bad storms between April and December that cause deaths and widespread destruction.
Cyclone Roanu hit the southern coast of Bangladesh last year, leaving 20 people dead and forcing half a million to flee their homes.
The Mora cyclone formed after heavy rains in Sri Lanka caused floods and landslides killing over 180 people.
