Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- At least five people were killed and several thousand houses washed away by tidal surge of seawater as the cyclonic storm hit the country’s coast districts on Monday.
Five people have died so far in the cyclone in the country’s southern Bhola and Potuakhali districts, officials confirmed.
The low-lying areas of different costal districts including Koyra Upazila of Khulna, Sharonkhola, and Moralgonj Upazila of Bagerhat, Shamnagor and Ashushani Upazila of Satkhira and many others offshore islands and chars area of Borguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Laxmipur, Noakhali, Feni and Chandpur went under up to eight feet deep water because of tidal surges.
The coast crossing cyclonic storm “Aila” moved northwards inland, the centre of the storm crossed west Bengal-Khulna (Bangladesh) coast near Sagar island of India and lay centred at Kolkata and adjoining area of India but the remaining part of the storm is still crossing, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department said.
“It is likely to move in a northerly direction further inland. Sea will remain very rough,” a special weather bulletin of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department said.
Maritime port of Mongla has been advised to hoist danger signal number seven.
The coastal districts of Bhola, Barisal, Patuakhali, Barguna, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira, Jessore and their offshore islands and chars will be under danger signal number seven.
Maritime ports of Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar have been advised to keep hoisted danger signal number six.
The coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Feni, Laxmipur, Comilla, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars will be under danger signal number six.
Under the influence of the storm, the coastal districts of Khulna, Bagerhat, Barguna, Satkhira, Barisal, Patuakhali, Bhola, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Laxmipur, Noakhali, Feni, Chandpur, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and their offshore islands, and chars are likely to experience heavy or very heavy rain accompanied by squally wind speed up to 90 kph with the passage of the storm.
The low-lying areas of the costal districts of Khulna, Bagerhat, Barguna, Satkhira, Barisal, Patuakhali, Bhola, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Laxmipur, Noakhali, Feni, Chandpur, Chittagong, and Cox’s Bazar and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surge of height 06-08 feet above normal astronomical tide, the Met office warned.
All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain in shelter until further notice.
BBN/SS/SI/AD-25May09-10:15 pm (BST)
