Coastal areas of Bangladesh are likely to experience two to four feet high tidal surge and wind speed up to 80 to 100 kilometer per hour in gusts or squalls with heavy to very heavy falls when severe cyclone Yaas makes landfall on Wednesday.
Meteorologist Abdul Mannan told The Business Post that the cyclone was heading towards West Bengal and Odisha coast of India. But the right side of the cyclone will cross Bangladesh’s western coast area before Wednesday noon. Already moderate heavy rain and thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty and squally wind is occurring some places of the country due to the effect of the tip of the storm.
The Met Office asked maritime ports of Chattogram, Coxa Bazar, Mongla and Payra to hoist local cautionary signal three.
Ahmadul Haque, Director of the Cyclone Preparedness Programme said that 76 thousand volunteers were ready to evacuate people and take them to cyclone shelters if needed.
“We have taken all kinds of preparation to face the cyclone and already the weathermen advised to hoist cautionary signal three for all sea ports, he said.
Matiul Islam Chowdhury, Deputy Commissioner of Patuakhali, said that the district administration was ready to bring people to the shelters.
CPP volunteers team leader in Bhola, Abdul Hasnat Taslim, told The Business Post that there were 709 cyclone shelters in the district. Already four unions of Monpura upazila and Ramdaspur and Kachia union under Bhola sadar upazila went under water for high tide. “Our volunteers are ready to follow the government instructions,” he said.
Abdul Mabud Babul, volunteer team leader at Karnaphuli upazila in Chattogram, said that 12 government cyclone shelters and 15 multi-storied privately owned buildings were prepared for in the upazila.
Bangladesh Metrological Department’s special weather bulletin said that Yass was staying over the northwest bay and adjoining areas it was moving northwestwards further at 3:00pm.
Yaas was staying about 535 kilometers southwest of Chattogram port, 505 kilometers southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 390 kilometers south-southwest of Mongla port and 390 kilometers south-southwest of Payra port at 6:00pm, the bulletin said.
Yaas is likely to move northwestwards further and may cross North Odisha-West Bengal coast by Wednesday noon.
Coastal districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Jhalakati, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Bhola, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and Chattogram, and their offshore islands and chars are likely to experience wind speed up to 80 to 100 kilometer per hour in gusts/squalls with heavy to very heavy falls during the passage of the storm, the met office said.
Under the influence of the full moon phage, the low-laying areas of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Jhalakati, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barihsal, Bhola, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and Chattogram are likely to inundated by two to four 04 feet high tide.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 74kms of the very severe cyclone centre is about 120kph rising to 140kph in gusts/squalls. Sea will remain very high near the severe cyclone centre.
All fishing boats and trawlers over north bay and deep sea have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.
