The severe cyclonic storm 'Hamoon' over the Northwest Bay and adjoining areas started crossing Cox's Bazar and Chattogram coasts after 6pm today.
According to Meteorologist Monowar Hossain, "The storm may complete crossing the coastal areas by late night today.’
The maritime ports of Chattogram and Cox's Bazar have been advised to hoist signal number seven while Payra and Mongla ports have been asked to hoist signal number five, he said.
Earlier, met office asked the maritime ports of Payra and Chattogram to hoist the danger signal to seven as the Cyclone Hamoon intensified.
The Met Office also asked the Cox’s Bazar port to hoist danger signal No six and Mongla Port to hoist signal No five.
Met office in its latest bulletin number 10 said the coastal district of Barishal, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barguna, Pirozpur, Jhalakathi, Chattogram, Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur and other offshore islands and chars will come under danger signal number seven.
Under the peripheral effect of the severe cyclonic storm, heavy (44-88mm) to very heavy (up to 89 or above) rainfall with gusty or squally wind may continue over north bay and coastal areas of Bangladesh.
All fishing boats and trawlers over north bay and deep sea have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.
Besides, the government evacuated some 15 lakh people from the 10 coastal districts as the severe cyclonic storm "Hamoon”.
Disaster Management and Relief Secretary M Kamrul Hasan said after emerging meeting at the ministry conference room in the capital this morning.
He said "All out preparations have been taken to evacuate at least 15 lakh people to safer places... Along with necessary relief assistances also have been allocated for these 10 vulnerable districts."
Emergency relief assistances including rice, dry food, baby food, cattle feed and cash money also have been asked to disburse at the vulnerable districts, he said, adding: "Meeting has been taken place at the concerned relief and disaster management ministry headed by the State Minister."
Even directives have been given to the concerned Deputy Commissioners to evacuate at least 15 lakh people to the safer places before midnight (Oct 25), the secretary mentioned.
At least 24 lakh vulnerable people had been evacuated from the coastal regions during the cyclonic storm 'Moccha'. The volunteers of cyclone preparedness programme (CPP) are working at the field levels," said the ministry top official, adding that 74,020 volunteers of CPP are currently working in 3,701 units of 355 unions under 41 upazilas of 13 coastal districts.
According to the latest bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the severe cyclonic storm is about 445 kilometres west-southwest of Chattogram port, 410 kilometres west-southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 325 kilometres Southwest of Mongla port, and 310 kilometres southwest of Payra port.
BDST: 2039 HRS, OCT 24, 2023
MSK
