Thousands move to safety as Cyclone Mora closes in on coast

Thousands of people have started moving to safety in coastal districts after the government upgraded a cyclone warning to No. 10, its highest level, as Cyclone Mora is closing in on the Bangladesh coast.

As many as 300,000 people were taken to shelters in more than ten districts most vulnerable to the cyclone, said Additional Secretary Golam Mostafa, a spokesman for the disaster management ministry's control room. 

At least 2.5 million people in ten districts risk falling in the way of the severe cyclonic storm expected to make landfall on early Tuesday. 

The local administrations launched efforts at 8pm to move people to safety.         

The at-risk districts are Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barisal and Pirojpur. 

There are about 3,000 shelters in the coastal belt with schools too prepared to take in people when the storm hits.

About 18 million people live in 19 coastal districts, with 13 of them usually at high risk.

The storm system will cross the coastline around 6am Tuesday, passing over Kutubdia in Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong’s Swandip and Hatia with speed of 89 to 117 per kilometre.

It has been drizzling since morning in Cox’s Bazar, Patuakhali, Bagerhat and other coastal districts. Many low-lying neighbourhoods in Cox’s Bazar were flooded with waves at least four feet taller than usual.