The maritime port of Cox’s Bazar has been asked to hoist the great danger signal 10 as very severe cyclonic storm Mocha over east central Bay and adjoining area moved North-Northeastwards over the same area.
Cox’s Bazar deputy commissioner Shaheen Imran told UNB that the maritime port of Cox’s Bazar has been asked to hoist great danger signal No 10.
Besides, the maritime port of Chattogram has been advised to hoist great danger signal 8 while maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist local warning signal 4.
On Saturday morning it was centred about 815km south-southwest of Chattogram port, 745km south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 785km south of Mongla port and 745km south of Payra port, said the latest Met office bulletin.
It is likely to intensify further, move in a north-northwesterly direction and cross Cox’s Bazar-North Myanmar’s coast between 6 am to 6 pm on Sunday (May 14).
Coastal reasons of Chattogram and Barishal divisions will experience the peripheral effect of the very severe cyclonic storm by Saturday night, said the bulletin.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 74 km of the very severe cyclone centre is about 160 kph, rising to 175 kph, in gusts or squalls.
The sea will remain very rough near the storm centre.
The coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Bhola and their offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal no 8.
Under the peripheral effect of very cyclone and steep pressure gradient, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram and their offshore island and chars are likely to be inundated by the wind driven surge height of 8-12 feet above normal astronomical tide.
The low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Bhola and their offshore island and chars are likely to be inundated by the wind driven surge height of 5-7 feet above normal astronomical tide.
Under the effect of very severe cyclone, Chattogram, Sylhet and Barishal divisions are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall. Due to very heavy rainfall landslide may occur a places over the hilly regions of Cox’s Bazar, Bandarbans, Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Chattogram.
All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.
Chattogram port suspends operations
Chattogram port, which controls about 92 per cent of the country's import-export trade, has stopped the release of goods, side by side suspending its operational activities.
Besides, vessels berthed at the jetty have been asked to move to outer anchorage as soon as possible. Lighter vessels have also been asked to take shelter towards Shah Amanat Bridge area of Karnaphuli River.
At the same time, ships have been started moving from jetty.
CPA Secretary Mohammad Omar Faruk confirmed the information.
All operational activities of the port will remain suspended until the weather situation becomes normal, he said.
"Bulk ships have been driven out to the outer anchorage. The ships will remain at outer anchorage with the running engine," he added.
