Massive evacuation underway as cyclone Remal approaches Bangladesh

The authorities on Sunday launched an intensified evacuation campaign to take all vulnerable people to safety as the Met Office asked Payra and Mongla ports to hoist great danger signal no ten while it issued nine for Cox's Bazar and Chattogram ports.

"A large-scale evacuation has already started. All vulnerable people are presumed to be moved to safer places at the shortest possible time," Director General of the Department of Disaster Management Mizanur Rahman said.

According to the latest cyclone warning bulletin, the cyclonic storm 'Remal' is likely to move in a northerly direction and may cross Sagar island of West Bengal-Khepupara coast near Mongla by evening or midnight on Sunday (26 May).

The storm over north-west Bay and adjoining area moved northwards, and intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the same area as it was about 400kms southwest of Chattogram port, 360kms southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 330 kms south of Mongla port and 295 kms south of Payra port at 6am today, it added.

Earlier, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohibur Rahman said, "Cyclone "Remal" is coming. We've kept ready the cyclone centres and taken all types of preparations to tackle it".

He said to the private TV channel Ekattor last night that the entire coastal regions are feared to bear the main brunt of the cyclone as extensive preparedness has started under the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. 

"The district administration has turned social, educational and religious institutions to makeshift shelters alongside 4,000 designated cyclone shelters in coastal districts to accommodate over large number of people including the most vulnerable ones living in remote areas," Mohibur added.

"A total of 78,000 volunteers from the Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP) have been kept ready to deal with cyclone 'Remal' in the coastal district," the state minister said while talking to newsmen at his ministry office on Saturday.

Around 4,000 cyclone shelter centres have been readied in the coastal districts, equipped with adequate dry food supplies, he added.

He said some 8,600 Red Crescent volunteers and others joined a campaign asking people at risk to move to safety alongside the government officials while the district administration mobilized transports to carry them to the cyclone shelters.

The latest weather bulletin, however, said under the peripheral effect of the severe cyclone, rain with gust wind has started over coastal regions of Bangladesh.

Maximum sustained wind speed within 64 km of the severe cyclonic centre is about 90 kph, rising to 120 kph in gusts or squalls. The sea will remain high near the severe cyclone centre.

The coastal districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagherhat, Pirojpur, Jhalokhati, Borguna, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali and their offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal no ten.

The coastal districts of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Feni, Cumilla, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars will come under great signal no nine.

Under the peripheral effect of the severe cyclone and steep pressure gradient, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagherhat, Pirojpur, Jhalokhati, Borguna, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Cumilla, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by wind-driven surge of 8-12 feet height above normal astronomical tide.

Under the influence of the cyclone Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions are likely to experience heavy (44-88mm) to very heavy rainfall (more89mm) with gusty or squally wind.

Due to very heavy rainfall, landslides may occur at places over the hilly regions of Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachari and Chattogram.

All fishing boats and the trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.