Great Danger Signal 8 as Cyclone Mocha nears

Gradually increasing its strength, Cyclone Mocha was progressing as a “Very Strong Cyclone” over the Bay of Bangle during the filling of this report last night. It is expected to gather more strength by Saturday morning to become an “Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm” with the maximum speed of 210 km per hour, according to Dhaka Met office.

It is expected to hit the coasts on Sunday with wind speeds of up to 160km per hour and gusts up to 175km per hour between Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh and Kyaukpyu in Myanmar, said Meteorologist Monwar Hossain of the Dhaka Met Office.

Bangladesh, a delta nation with more than 160 million people, is prone to natural disasters such as floods and cyclones. “This is the first cyclone system in the north Indian Ocean this year,” said Rajendra Kumar Jenamani, a senior scientist at the Indian Meteorological Department.

“The cyclone is severe and will likely affect millions of fishers and coastal communities in Bangladesh and Myanmar,” he added.

Great Danger Signal 8

Maritime ports of Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram and Payra were advised to hoist Great Danger Signal 8 as Cyclone Mocha makes its way to the southeastern coast of Bangladesh. However, maritime port of Mongla was advised to keep hoisted local warning signal 4.

At 6pm on Friday, 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, according to the Met office bulletin.

All fishing boats and trawlers over the north Bay were advised to remain in shelter till further notice.

Rains in Cox’s Bazar

The country’s coastal district Cox’s Bazar already started experiencing moderate rainfall from 2:40pm to 3:10pm on Friday as the impact of the cyclone.

The city was draped in an unceasing drizzle, under a dark and cloudy sky, with a chance of moderate rainfall returning, said Abdur Rahman, assistant meteorologist of Cox’s Bazar Meteorological Office.

The sea is a little rougher than normal due to the cyclone, said Mohammad Sukkur, a senior lifeguard worker of Sea Safe Life Guard Company engaged in beach security. He said red flags have been hoisted and tourists are banned from going into the see.

Preparations on to evacuate thousands of people

Local administration in coastal region started making announcement of the cyclone strike through mikes and urging the local residents to evacuate and take shelter in shelter centres. Authorities are warning them to stay away from coastal areas as the severe cyclone churned in the Bay of Bengal.

The evacuation of nearly 500,000 people is expected to start Saturday with 576 cyclone shelters ready to provide refuge to those who are moved from their homes along the coast, said Bangladesh government administrator Muhammad Shaheen Imran.

Control rooms in cyclone-prone areas were ready for emergency support, Imran said. He said the government has allocated dry food, rice and cash and organised thousands of volunteers for relief work under the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.

Cyclone Mocha is expected to hit coastal districts including Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Noakhali and Bhola in Bangladesh on Sunday.

A total of 1,170 permanent and makeshift cyclone shelter centres in Chattogram have been prepared to give shelter to at least people five lakh people.

Hussain Muhammad, assistant commissioner of Chattogram District Administration and focal person of the cyclone combat cell of Chattogram District Administration was seen supervising the awareness campaign in Akmal Ali Road at Halishahar in the port city in the afternoon.

Over 8,000 volunteers from Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) and more than 8,000 volunteers from Bangladesh Red Crescent Society have been taking part in the awareness campaign and relocating people to the cyclone shelter centres.

Meanwhile, the Chittagong Port Authority (CPS) has issued its own “warning signal no 2” due to the Cyclone Mocha.

Md Omar Faruq, secretary of the Port Authority, confirmed the matter on Friday afternoon.

The lighter ships in the sea were 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.

Emergency services

Aspire to Innovation (a2i) has been working to tackle the crisis moment by providing emergency services. It will provide emergency service and all information regarding weather and signals with a single phone call. People will be able to avail the service by making a call at 333.

WMO warns of humanitarian impact

A spokesperson of the World Meteorological Organization on Friday said that Cyclone Mocha had intensified very quickly and warned of “big humanitarian impacts” when it makes landfall in Myanmar and Bangladesh this weekend.

The spokesperson Clare Nullis told a Geneva-based briefing that the cyclone was likely to inundate low-lying areas of North Myanmar and parts of Bangladesh and warned of possible landslides.

DAE tells farmers to harvest paddy, mangoes

Fearing damage to corps, farmers in Rajshahi are rushing to harvest paddy and mangoes as Cyclone Mocha approaches the country.

The cyclone, which is expected to make landfall on Sunday, is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rains from Saturday evening.

In the meantime, the Department of Agricultural Extension directed mango and paddy farmers to harvest all their produce despite 20 percent of the corps are not ready for harvesting.

As a result, the farmers are working around the clock to harvest their mangoes and paddy.

Cyclones hit coasts with death and destruction