The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Friday advised maritime ports of Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram and Payra to hoist “Great Danger Signal 8” as the very severe cyclonic storm Mocha over the Bay of Bengal is heading towards the coastal areas.
However, the maritime port of Mongla has been advised to keep hoisted local warning signal number 4.
According to the BMD special weather bulletin, Mocha was about 930km south-southwest of Chattogram port, 860km south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 890km south-southwest of Mongla port, and 855km south-southwest of Payra port as of 6pm.
It is likely to intensify further, move in a north-northeasterly direction and may cross Cox's Bazar-north Myanmar coasts between 6am and 6pm on Sunday. Cox's Bazar and adjoining coastal regions will experience the peripheral effect of the very severe cyclonic storm by Saturday evening, the bulletin said.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 74km of the weather system is about 140km per hour rising to 160km per hour in gusts. The sea will remain very high near the storm centre.
The coastal districts of Cox's Bazar, Chattogram, Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Barguna and their offshore islands and chars will come under Great Danger Signal 8.
Under the peripheral effect of the cyclone and steep pressure gradient, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox's Bazar and Chattogram and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by the wind driven surge height of 8-12 feet above normal astronomical tide.
Besides, under the peripheral effect of the cyclone and steep pressure gradient, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Barguna and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by the wind driven surge height of 5-7 feet above normal astronomical tide.
All fishing boats and trawlers over the north Bay were advised to remain in shelter till further notice.
Ctg, Cox's Bazar ready to face Mocha
At least 1,606 cyclone shelters have been prepared in Chattogram and Cox's Bazar districts to shelter over 10 lakh people as Cyclone Mocha may hit the southeast coast of Bangladesh by Sunday.
Besides, all-out preparations have been made at all levels of the administration of these two districts, said Salim Hossain, deputy chief information officer at the disaster management and relief ministry, reports UNB.
As part of this, all upazila executive officers and upazila project implementation officers have been instructed to take the necessary preparations, he added.
In Cox's Bazar, more than Tk 20 lakh has been allocated to face any emergency. Besides, 590 tonnes of rice, three and a half tonnes of toast biscuits, three tonnes of dry cake, 20,000 packets of oral saline, and 40,000 water purification tablets have been allocated.
As many as 8,600 volunteers under the Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP) and 2,200 Red Crescent Society volunteers have been kept ready in this district. Besides, 576 cyclone shelters have been kept ready to accommodate 550,099 people as the forecast indicates that Cox's Bazar is the most vulnerable.
Meanwhile, Tk 14,08,500 has been allocated to the Chattogram district.
Also, 608 tonnes of rice, 3.5 tonnes of toast biscuits, three tonnes of dry cake, 30,000 packets of oral saline, and 60,000 water purification tablets have been stored.
Moreover, 530 permanent and 500 temporary shelters have been prepared in the district which has a capacity to shelter 5,01,110 people.
Meanwhile, 16,880 volunteers of CPP and Red Crescent Society have been kept ready. They are updating weather information on the loudspeaker to make people aware.
Warning signal 2 issued at Ctg port
The Chattogram Port Authority has issued its own “warning signal 2” due to Cyclone Mocha.
Md Omar Faruq, secretary of the port authority, confirmed the matter on Friday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the lighter ships in the sea are being sent to safer places from Sadarghat towards the Karnaphuli Shah Amanat Setu area to avoid the possible damage of the cyclone.
Vessels at jetties and outer anchorages have been asked to keep engines running so that they can make immediate movements.
Besides, the port's own ships have been asked to double-moor safely.
Many residents leaving St Martin's Island
All hotels, motels and resorts in St Martin's Island have been declared as shelters by the local administration of the coastal district of Cox’s Bazar.
Meanwhile, residents started leaving the island by trawler to Teknaf. As of Friday afternoon, close to 1,500 people from 200 families reportedly left the island.
According to the Met Office, the cyclone will pass over the coast of Myanmar and surrounding areas including St Martin's Island.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Kamruzzaman said, “All hotels, motels and resorts of St Martin’s Island have been declared as shelters. However, the exact number of people who have left the island for Teknaf is not confirmed yet.”
He added, “There is no reason to panic. Seventeen shelters have been kept ready on the island. Navy, Coast Guard, BGB, police, public representatives and volunteers are working together in these shelters.”
On the other hand, St Martin Union Parishad Chairman Mujibur Rahman said, “Residents have become frightened as there are not enough shelters in this island. No sustainable embankments around the island, no food warehouse, medical care, sea ambulance here.”
The Met Office also has no operations here, he added.
