Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – Cyclone Mahasen has hit Khepupara coastal area in the country’s southwestern Patuakhali district around 9:00am (local time) on Thursday.
The cyclone is likely to move northeasterly direction further and may cross Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar coast by Thursday noon, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said in a special bulletin.
Director of the Meteorological Department Shah Alam predicted that the cyclone is likely to crossed Khepupara-Teknaf coast near Chittagong on Thursday noon, lashing the country’s low-lying coastal areas.
Lying over the North Bay, the cyclonic storm was centred at 9:00am today 210 kilometres south of Mongla port, 225km southwest of Cox’s Bazar port and about 270km southwest of Chittagong port.
The BMD bulletin, released at 9:17am on Thursday, said maximum sustained wind speed within 54km of the storm centre is about 62kph rising to 90kph in gusts or squalls.
The sea will remain very rough near the storm centre, it warned.
The authorities have raised the danger level to seven, on a scale of 1 to 11, for Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar ports.
Coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Bhola, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barisal and their offshore islands and chars(shoals) will come under danger signal number seven.
Meantime, maritime port of Mongla has been advised to keep hoisted danger signal number five.
Pirojpur, Jhalkati, Bagherhat, Khulna and Satkhira coastal districts and their offshore islands and chars will come under the danger signal.
Storm surge of 8-10 feet height above normal astronomical tide may inundate the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Barguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barisal, Pirojpur, Jhalkati, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars.
According to the BMD bulletin, Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Borguna, Patuakhali, Barisal, Bhola, Pirojpur, and their offshore islands and chars are likely to experience wind speed up to 90-100kph in gusts or squalls with heavy to very falls during the passage of the storm.
Meantime, Jhalkati, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to experience wind speed up to 80-90kph in such gusts or squalls with heavy to very falls during the passage of the storm.
The BMD also warned of landslide at places over the hilly regions of Chittagong division due to very heavy rainfall.
All fishing boats, trawlers and marine vessels over North Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) suspended the operation of vessels and ferries on long routes till further notice.
Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar Airport were closed on Wednesday afternoon.
All activities at the Chittagong Seaport have been suspended following the issuance of the danger signal number 7. The authorities have also issued ‘alert-3’ at the port.
Port Secretary Syed Farhad Uddin Ahmed said the loading and loading of goods at the port were suspended. “All ships staying at the main jetty and mooring were asked to move away to the outer anchorage for safety.”
Chittagong and Karnaphuli EPZs were declared closed on Wednesday for an indefinite period.
The government has taken all-out measures to shield possible loss of lives and property from the cyclone. Some 2,968 permanent and temporary shelter centres have been kept ready in the coastal districts for the locals to take shelter there.
A total of 1,327 medical teams are also ready in 13 coastal districts to provide emergency medical services if Mahasen’ hits Bangladesh. There are six doctors in each team.
The holidays of the government officials and employees in the coastal districts have been cancelled to tackle any exigencies.
Twenty-two ships of Bangladesh Navy have been kept standby for conducting rescue operations and relief activities should ‘Mahasen’ makes a landfall in Bangladesh.
BBN/SSR/AD-16May13-11:19 am (BST)
