More than a quarter million people affected by Cyclone Mora, says minister

Cyclone Mora has affected more than a quarter million people when it crossed Bangladesh, says the disaster management ministry.

Additional Secretary Golam Mostafa told the media on Wednesday as many as 286,000 people in 16 coastal districts were affected by the storm.

With wind speeds of over 100 km per hour, the severe cyclonic storm hit the Chittagong-Cox's Bazar coast at 6am on Tuesday.

It weakened into a land depression six hours later leaving behind a trail of damaged houses and trees in the coastal districts.

Mostafa said that they have received reports of six deaths -- four in Cox's Bazar and two in Rangamati.

He said the families of the six have received Tk 25,000 each as compensation and will be provided with further assistance if needed.

 >> Thirty one Upazilas in the districts of Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Rangamati, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Barisal, Pirojpur, Patuakhali, Jhalakathi, Barguna, Khulna, Satkhira have been affected;

>> Around 54,500 families in these areas have lost properties in the storm;

 >> A little less than 60,000 houses have been damaged along with 1,592 acres of farmlands;

A total of 61 persons have been injured during the storm -- 60 in Cox's Bazar and one in Rangamati, added Additional Secretary Mostafa.

He said that the administration had moved 475,669 people in the coastal district to 11,820 cyclone shelters on Monday after the storm turned into a severe cyclone.

A total of 1,700 tonnes of rice and cash assistance of Tk 13.7 million have been allotted for the 16 coastal districts.

"We are in touch with the local administrations. The deputy commissioners have been told that we are ready to dispatch relief supplies and assistance according to their need."