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Hamoon leaves destruction in Ctg, Cox's Bazar

FE REPORT | October 26, 2023 00:00:00


Cyclone Hamoon hit the south-eastern coast of the country on Tuesday night, causing three deaths and significant damages in beach-town Cox's Bazar and Chattogram district.

The storm weakened as it moved inland, becoming a land depression with heavy rain, said the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).

As the cyclone passed, operations at Chattogram port and inland shipping services across the country resumed on Wednesday.

According to local rescue and primary damage assessments, after Cox's Bazar, one of the worst-hit areas was Banshkhali upazila in Chattogram, where over 280 houses were completely destroyed. Trees were also uprooted in many areas.

In the upazila, road communication was severed in various areas due to fallen trees and power poles being uprooted.

Banskhali Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jasmine Akhter said efforts were underway to provide emergency relief there.

Meanwhile, Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Omar Faruk said, "Operational activities of Chittagong port have resumed today [Wednesday]. Berthing of ships, loading and unloading of cargoes and containers are continuing again. The CPA has withdrawn the danger signal number 3 for the port that was declared for the cyclone."

On Tuesday, Chittagong Port Authority stopped all operational activities due to the cyclone. No ships from outer anchorage came into the jetty or no ship came out. The loading and unloading of cargoes and containers were also stopped.

According to the met office, Hamoon crossed the coast at 1:00 am on Wednesday and continued to weaken as it moved inland. The wind speed ranged from 70 to 80 kilometres per hour when the frontal part of the cyclone touched the coast on Tuesday evening.

A low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal quickly developed into Cyclone Hamoon, with meteorologists initially predicting it would hit the Bangladesh coast by Wednesday noon. However, it moved swiftly towards the coast, leaving it with little time to gain strength.

The cyclone caused tidal surges of up to 5.0 feet above normal in many areas and brought heavy rain to Chattogram and Cox's Bazar.

Kutubdia saw the highest rainfall of 124 millimetres until 7:00 pm on Wednesday, followed by Cox's Bazar with 108 millimetres.

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