The weather system after intensifying into a cyclone over the Bay of Bengal is likely to hit Bangladesh’s 19 coastal districts in a span of 730km areas on Tuesday, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Enamur Rahman has said.
The cyclone, already named Sitrang, may hit the coastal areas at a speed of 90 to 110km per hour, he told reporters at the secretariat on Sunday.
Earlier in the morning, the depression over the east-central Bay intensified into a deep depression.
Quoting the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) information, the state minister said the deep depression might intensify into a cyclone by Sunday evening and take a further northeast turn.
“If the weather system takes the turn, it will hit the coastal areas from Cox’s Bazar to Satkhira.”
Regarding the preparation to deal with the cyclone, Enamur said that they have already started taking preparation since the formation of low pressure over the Bay.
“We have discussed the matter with the district administrators. They have been instructed to prepare in advance, particularly in vulnerable areas. Meanwhile, cyclone shelters have been cleaned and prepared.”
The BMD, in a special bulletin on Sunday night, asked the maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra to hoist the local warning signal number four as the deep depression intensified into a cyclonic storm over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay.
It said Cyclone Sitrang was situated about 770km southwest of Chattogram port, 710km southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 700km south-southwest of Mongla port, and 675km south-southwest of Payra port at 6:00pm.
It was likely to intensify further and move in a northerly direction.
The maximum sustained wind speed within 54km of the cyclone centre is about 62km per hour rising to 88km per hour in gusts. Sea will remain very rough near the cyclone centre, the bulletin said.
Under the peripheral effect of the cyclone, new moon phase and steep pressure gradient, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by the wind driven surge as high as five to seven feet height above normal astronomical tide.
All fishing boats and trawlers over the north Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice, the Met office added.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclone would recurve and move north-northeastwards and cross the Bangladesh coast between Tinkona island and Sandwip, close to Barishal, in the early hours of Tuesday.
