With the cyclone 'Mocha' approaching fast, the Bay of Bengal has become rough and choppy as is seen in this photo taken from Patenga in Chattogram on Friday. — Focus Bangla Bangladesh braces for the 'severe' cyclonic storm Mocha that is likely to hit north-western coastal areas, including St Martin's, Cox's Bazar and Teknaf, on Sunday noon.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Friday night issued great danger signal No. 08 for Chattogram, Cox's Bazar and Payra ports.
The earlier hoisted warning signal No. 04 for Mongla port is still in force.
The Met office advised all fishing boats and trawlers over the North Bay to take shelter immediately.
In its latest bulletin on Friday evening, the BMD said Mocha over south-east Bay and adjoining areas intensified into a severe cyclonic storm first, then moved northwards and intensified a very severe cyclonic storm over central Bay and adjoining south-east Bay.
"It's likely to intensify further and move in a north-north-easterly direction," it added.
Rain or thundershower, accompanied by temporary gusty or squally winds, is likely to occur at some places over Chattogram and Barishal divisions and at one or two places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna and Sylhet divisions.
Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) is providing forecast and meteorological support to humanitarian agencies to help them mobilise against this great danger.
WMO's regional specialised meteorological centre in New Delhi forecasts that Mocha will move towards Bangladesh-Myanmar coasts and further intensify until landfall between Cox's Bazar (Bangladesh) and Kyaukpyu (Myanmar), close to Sittwe (Myanmar), on Sunday noon.
This very dangerous cyclone is associated with sustained maximum winds of 180-190 km/h, it says.
A storm surge with height of about 2.0-2.5 metres above astronomical tides is likely to inundate lowlands of north Myanmar and adjoining south-east Bangladesh coasts during the time of the landfall.
Heavy rainfall is forecast with possible risks of flood, flash flood and landslide.
There will be major impacts both before and after landfall for potentially hundreds of thousands of the world's most vulnerable Rohingya people.
Cox's Bazar is home to nearly one million Rohingya refugees - the world's largest camp. Rakhine in Myanmar has about 6.0-million people in need of humanitarian assistance, it added.
The cyclone impact areas in Cox's Bazar and Rakhine are low-lying and highly prone to flooding.
Heavy rains and strong winds are later expected to hit inland communities in north-west, which are also prone to landslide and flooding.
The cyclone was south-west 1,500 kilometre away from Chattogram port and 935 km off Cox's Bazar port on Friday noon.
The sea remained turbulent as high waves were crashing on the shore.
Meanwhile, the government has taken all-out preparations, including evacuation of residents from St Martin's.
The government has prepared some 1,606 shelters in Chittagong and Cox's Bazar to deal with cyclone Mocha and to support the evacuation effort.
More than 1.0-million people can take refuge in these shelters, said disaster management and relief ministry on Friday.
Furthermore, 8,600 volunteers of Cyclone Preparedness Programme and 2,200 volunteers of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society have remained ready in Cox's Bazar.
Another 576 cyclone shelters have been kept ready with a further capacity of 550,000 people under this facility, according to the ministry.
Meanwhile, the update shared in government warnings has created panic among 11,000 people on St Martin's.
People on the 8.0-sqkm coral island were passing time in fear. Many of them left for Teknaf Sadar on board wooden trawlers and speedboats for safety.
Disaster management committee members on the island have campaigned using hand mikes in different wards of the island to warn residents.
Our Chattogram correspondent adds: According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre, Mocha strengthened on Friday into the equivalent of a category-01 Atlantic hurricane and was moving north at 11 km/h.
The storm's winds could peak at 220 km/h, which is equivalent to a category-04 Atlantic hurricane, just before making landfall on Sunday morning.
The Chattogram district administration opened a control room for monitoring the situation on Friday. Medical teams were also formed for treatment after the disaster.
Chattogram deputy commissioner (DC) Abul Bashar Mohammed Fakruzzaman said, "We informed the higher authorities of the current situation. We're prepared for saving lives."
"We sent relief materials to UNOs of coastal upazilas. The district administration took all measures for facing the disaster," he added.
A total of 530 permanent and 500 temporary cyclone shelters are ready to provide shelter for the people of coastal belt in Chattogram, cited Mr Fakruzzaman.
He hoped casualties might be avoided as the preparation of the district administration is quite sufficient.
Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said the CCC will send vehicles and volunteers to coastal areas, particularly at Patenga, Halishahar and EPZ, for moving dwellers to safety.
Miking is continuing to make people aware of moving to safety. Besides, medical teams are ready for any unwanted disaster here, he added.
Meanwhile, the cyclone preparedness programme of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society has taken all-out measures to this end. They have engaged volunteers in the coastal upazilas of Chattogram and Cox's Bazar.
On the other hand, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar district administrations have taken all-out precautionary measures to save the people from the grudge of the cyclonic storm.
According to Cox's Bazar DC office, the district administration has already taken initiatives to shift people from offshore islands, including Kutubdia, Moheshkhali and St Martin's.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
