Residents and refugees have been evacuated from low-lying areas. (File)
Dhaka:
Cyclone Mocha’s peripheral effect has begun over the coastal areas of Chattorgram and Barishal divisions, according to the latest bulletin from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the Dhaka Tribune reported.
According to BMD, cyclone Mocha is moving towards the coastal areas of Bangladesh and Myanmar with winds of up to 210 km/h.
The very strong cyclonic storm was located approximately 490 kilometers southwest of Chattogram Port, 410 kilometers southwest of Cox’s Bazar Port, 530 kilometers south of Mongla Port, and 460 kilometers south of Mongla Harbor, according to the advisory at midnight from Payra. according to the Dhaka Tribune.
According to BMD, it is expected to continue developing today (May 14), continuing in a north-northwesterly direction and crossing the coast of Cox’s Bazar-Northern Myanmar between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The latest bulletin states that at midnight, the maximum sustained wind speed within 74 kilometers of the very severe cyclone center was about 190 km/h, with gusts of up to 210 km/h.
India’s Meteorological Department said on Sunday Cyclone Mocha will cross southeastern Bangladesh and northern Myanmar today with sustained winds of 180-190 km/h and gusts of up to 210 km/h.
According to the Dhaka Tribune, the seaport of Cox’s Bazar has been ordered to hoist the Great Danger Signal 10.
In addition, it has been advised that the seaports of Chattogram and Payra hoist Major Danger Signal 8, while the seaport of Mongla should hoist Local Warning Signal 4.
The bulletin states that the coastal area of Cox’s Bazar, as well as the surrounding islands and chars, are under Great Danger Signal No. 10 will fall.
The coastal districts of Chattogram, Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Barishal, Patuakhali, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Barguna and Bhola, as well as the outlying islands, come under the Great Danger Signal No. 8, Dhaka Tribune reported.
Aid agencies in Bangladesh and Myanmar say they are preparing for disaster and have begun implementing a comprehensive emergency plan as a strong cyclone approaches millions of helpless people, CNN reported.
Forming early Thursday in the Bay of Bengal, Tropical Cyclone Mocha has become a high-end Category 4 Atlantic hurricane with sustained winds of 240 km/h (150 mph).
According to Sanjeev Kafley, head of the IFRC Bangladesh delegation, disaster response teams and more than 3,000 local volunteers trained in disaster preparedness and first aid are on standby in the camps, and there is a national early warning system for cyclones. in place, according to CNN.
According to Kafley, there are 7,500 emergency shelter kits, 4,000 hygiene kits and 2,000 water containers available for distribution.
Arjun Jain, UN Chief Coordinator for the Rohingya Refugee Response in Bangladesh, told CNN that mobile health teams and dozens of ambulances are also standing by to help refugees and Bangladeshis in need, with specially trained teams on standby to help the elderly, children and refugees. to help. the specially skilled.
Mr Jain also said: “We expect this cyclone to have a greater impact than any other natural disaster they have faced in the last five years”, adding: “At this stage we just don’t know where the cyclone will make landfall come. and with what intensity, so we hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.”
People in low-lying locations and those with critical medical issues were evacuated, he said, CNN reported.
Residents of Myanmar’s Rakhine state and Ayeyarwady region have begun to flee their homes and seek refuge in temples and schools.
IFRC’s Kafley also said the Red Cross has hundreds of volunteers ready to assist with relocation efforts for the most vulnerable citizens and awareness campaigns in cities and towns.
Tropical Cyclone Giri, which made landfall in October 2010, was the most recent storm of comparable strength. It made landfall as a high-end Category 4-equivalent storm with maximum winds of 250 km/h (155 mph).
Giri resulted in more than 150 fatalities and nearly 70 percent of Kyaukphyu city was destroyed. About 15,000 homes were destroyed in Rakhine state during the storm, according to the United Nations, CNN reports.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is being published from a syndicated feed.)