Over 100 fishermen feared drowned
Sunday, 23 September 2007
Over 100 fishermen were feared drowned as 12 trawlers capsized in the surging Bay Friday night as a monsoon depression turned the sea rough, reports UNB.
Meantime, the depression intensified into a deep depression over the northwest Bay and adjoining areas, prompting meteorologists to advise Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla seaports to follow lower previous local cautionary signal No. 3 instead of hoisting local warning signal No.4.
UNB Barisal correspondent, quoting local sources, reported that 107 fishermen aboard the 12 trawlers were feared drowned in accidents.
According to the Trawler Owners' Association leaders, another 840 fishermen with 70 trawlers remained missing since storms overturned their fishing-boats Thursday night.
UNB Bagerhat correspondent said local fishermen are conducting a hectic search in coastal Narikel Baria, Dimer Char, Shelar Char and different areas along the Bay.
The fishermen who survived the calamity said they found 12 trawlers with over 150 fishermen sinking amid strong wind and high waves in the Bay.
Later, 50 of them managed to swim ashore or were rescued by the crew of other trawlers.
"But, the fate of the remaining ones is still a guess," said one of the survivors.
Mongla Coastguard sources said they are searching for the missing fishermen hailed from Bagerhat, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola and Pirojpur districts.
Meanwhile, the Coastguard (South Zone) rescued nine fishermen aboard two trawlers--FB Mohiuddin and FB Zannat-off Kochikhali area.
Coastguard Zonal Commander (South) Captain Abidur Rahman told the UNB that the rescued fishermen were sent to their destinations after giving first aid.
In view of the exigencies, an inter-ministerial government meeting was held in capital Dhaka Saturday, taking stock of the latest situation.
It was informed that "all the coastal district and upazila administrations remained on the alert" to tackle the calamity situation.
"Nearly 43,000 volunteers of these areas remain active to protect life and property," the meeting disclosed.
The monsoon deep depression over the northwest Bay and adjoining west-central Bay was centred on 470 kilometre (km) southwest of Mongla Port and
moving towards Orissa coast of India.
The depression may cross India's Paradwip and Puri coasts of Orissa at 8pm Saturday, the meeting was told.
Representatives of the Meteorological Department and Relief and the Rehabilitation Department were present at the meeting, chaired by Additional Secretary of Food and Disaster Management Ministry Abdul Bari Khan.
Barguna district administration held an emergency meeting at Patharghata Upazila Paridhad Saturday to tackle the situation arising out of the depression, as fleets of trawlers sail from the district in hunt for the high-priced Hilsha in the fishing season.
In the meeting, the trawler owners and workers said rescue teams could not be sent as the sea remained rough.
All the vessels at Mongla Port anchored at safer places and loading and unloading suspended due to inclement weather.
At present, five ships loaded with fertiliser clinkers and jute goods are waiting at the port for unloading.
Bagerhat district administration, however, opened three control rooms in the coastal areas while the Mongla Port Authority opened two at the port.
In Barisal, the port authorities suspended plying of launches less than 65 feet in length on coastal and river routes due to stormy weather since Friday night.
Some 28 routes of Barisal, 21 of Patuakhali, 13 of Barguna, 14 of Bhola and coastal services on five routes of Barisal-Bhola-Laxmipur-Chittagong will remain suspended until further notification.
Meantime, the depression intensified into a deep depression over the northwest Bay and adjoining areas, prompting meteorologists to advise Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla seaports to follow lower previous local cautionary signal No. 3 instead of hoisting local warning signal No.4.
UNB Barisal correspondent, quoting local sources, reported that 107 fishermen aboard the 12 trawlers were feared drowned in accidents.
According to the Trawler Owners' Association leaders, another 840 fishermen with 70 trawlers remained missing since storms overturned their fishing-boats Thursday night.
UNB Bagerhat correspondent said local fishermen are conducting a hectic search in coastal Narikel Baria, Dimer Char, Shelar Char and different areas along the Bay.
The fishermen who survived the calamity said they found 12 trawlers with over 150 fishermen sinking amid strong wind and high waves in the Bay.
Later, 50 of them managed to swim ashore or were rescued by the crew of other trawlers.
"But, the fate of the remaining ones is still a guess," said one of the survivors.
Mongla Coastguard sources said they are searching for the missing fishermen hailed from Bagerhat, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola and Pirojpur districts.
Meanwhile, the Coastguard (South Zone) rescued nine fishermen aboard two trawlers--FB Mohiuddin and FB Zannat-off Kochikhali area.
Coastguard Zonal Commander (South) Captain Abidur Rahman told the UNB that the rescued fishermen were sent to their destinations after giving first aid.
In view of the exigencies, an inter-ministerial government meeting was held in capital Dhaka Saturday, taking stock of the latest situation.
It was informed that "all the coastal district and upazila administrations remained on the alert" to tackle the calamity situation.
"Nearly 43,000 volunteers of these areas remain active to protect life and property," the meeting disclosed.
The monsoon deep depression over the northwest Bay and adjoining west-central Bay was centred on 470 kilometre (km) southwest of Mongla Port and
moving towards Orissa coast of India.
The depression may cross India's Paradwip and Puri coasts of Orissa at 8pm Saturday, the meeting was told.
Representatives of the Meteorological Department and Relief and the Rehabilitation Department were present at the meeting, chaired by Additional Secretary of Food and Disaster Management Ministry Abdul Bari Khan.
Barguna district administration held an emergency meeting at Patharghata Upazila Paridhad Saturday to tackle the situation arising out of the depression, as fleets of trawlers sail from the district in hunt for the high-priced Hilsha in the fishing season.
In the meeting, the trawler owners and workers said rescue teams could not be sent as the sea remained rough.
All the vessels at Mongla Port anchored at safer places and loading and unloading suspended due to inclement weather.
At present, five ships loaded with fertiliser clinkers and jute goods are waiting at the port for unloading.
Bagerhat district administration, however, opened three control rooms in the coastal areas while the Mongla Port Authority opened two at the port.
In Barisal, the port authorities suspended plying of launches less than 65 feet in length on coastal and river routes due to stormy weather since Friday night.
Some 28 routes of Barisal, 21 of Patuakhali, 13 of Barguna, 14 of Bhola and coastal services on five routes of Barisal-Bhola-Laxmipur-Chittagong will remain suspended until further notification.