St. Martin decimated

Very severe cyclonic storm Mocha has ripped through the country’s coral island, Saint Martin, since 2:00 pm on Sunday.

At least 10 people sustained injuries while hundreds of houses, hotels and resorts were battered in different areas of the eight-square-kilometre island due to heavy rains pouring down all afternoon. The entire island has faced extensive damage from uprooted trees blown over by strong winds.

Hundreds of trees have been uprooted and at least 750 houses of Majhorpara, Konarpara, Galachipa, Dakshinpara, Paschimpara and Uttarpara have been destroyed in the cyclonic storm. Several villages of Uttarpara and Paschimpara are being inundated in tidal surges.

More than 6,000 people, mostly women and children, have taken shelter at three cyclone shelters, several educational institutions and over 37 resorts and cottages, said St. Martin Union Parishad Chairman, Mujibur Rahman.

But the heavy rainfall accompanied by profound winds began after 2:00pm and continued till 4:00pm, resulting in the damage of houses and trees across the island. 10 to 15 people were injured. The condition of one woman is critical, he added.