Cyclone ‘Komen’ approaches Bangladesh coast, danger signal 7 for Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar; signal 5 at Mongla, Payra

A depression over the Northeast Bay that has turned in to a cyclonic storm is expected to make landfall around Thursday evening.

News Deskbdnews24.com
Published : 30 July 2015, 06:56 AM
Updated : 30 July 2015, 11:22 AM

A death has been reported from the St Martin’s Island when a tree, uprooted by gusty winds, fell on a man.

Over 50 houses on the island had been destroyed, said St Martin Union Parishad Chairman Nurul Amin.

The Met office says the storm is likely to move northeast and may cross the Chittagong coast by Thursday afternoon.

Ports in Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar are under danger signal 7, while signal 5 has been hoisted in Mongla and Payra.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s latest update said the cyclone was centred about 65 km southwest of Chittagong port, 80 km northwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 205 km east-southeast of Mongla port and 125 km southeast of Payra at 9am on Thursday.

It said that the wind speed within 54km of the storms centre was about 62 km per hour, which is rising to 88 km per hour in squally bursts.

Tides, about three- to five-foot high, may inundate low-lying areas in the districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Laxmipur,  Feni, Chandpur, Bhola, Barisal, Patuakhali, Jhalokathi, Pirozpur, Borguna, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands.

The weather office also fears occurrence of landslides in the hilly regions of the Chittagong division due to heavy rain as the storm nears the Bangladesh coast.

Cox’s Bazar’s acting Deputy Commissioner Anupam Saha told bdnews24.com all educational institutions in the district had been closed till further notice.

The airport in the sea-beach town has been shut down, but operations were still on in the Chittagong airport.

“Adverse weather conditions have forced authorities at Cox’s Bazar to shut airport operations, but four flights landed at the Chittagong airport until 8am on Thursday,” said Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport Manager Md Nur-e- Alam.

The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief on Wednesday ordered local administration to take measures to tackle the effects of the cyclone in the coastal areas.

The ministry’s Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) policy committee and implementation board held a meeting Wednesday night in Dhaka as the situation deteriorated in the Bay.

The measures include relocating people and livestock from the risky areas, preparing storm shelters, and keeping medical teams and local hospitals and volunteers ready for any emergencies.