Bangladesh starts evacuating 2.2m people to cyclone shelters as Amphan looms

Bangladesh has begun efforts to move nearly 2.2 million people to storm shelters to avoid casualties as Cyclone Amphan bears down on the coastline.

People threatened by the cyclone in the coastal districts will be evacuated to safety by 8 pm Tuesday, said State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman.

Storm alerts will be raised to the maximum level at 6 am Wednesday, he said.

The cyclone is expected to make landfall at 6pm Wednesday, the minister said at a virtual press briefing on Tuesday.

Describing the severe cyclonic storm as a new danger amid the coronavirus outbreak, Enamur said, “Bangladesh is viewed as ‘a role model’ when it comes to calamity management.”

The evacuees have been advised to wear face masks and maintain physical distance from each other upon arriving at the storm shelters, he added.

“A total of 12,078 cyclone shelters have been prepared in the coastal regions. The shelters have the combined capacity to house more than 5.1 million people, but all preparations have been taken following the health and safety guidelines amid the coronavirus crisis. That’s why we have decided to evacuate more than 2 million people living in the high-risk zones.”

The government has also formed a medical team to supply urgent medicine while Navy and army personnel are working to evacuate people from low-lying areas.

"All the relevant ministries are on alert. All fishing boats and trawlers have been advised to take shelter immediately and remain there until further notice," said Enamur.

Two Navy ships have left for evacuation of people from remote shoals in Satkhira, the Inter Services Public Relations Directorate or ISPR said.

The Navy deployed a total of 25 ships as part of three-tier efforts to conduct emergency rescue, relief and medical operations in the immediate aftermath of the storm.

Two maritime patrol aircraft and two helicopters were also at the ready to conduct search operations over the Bay of Bengal and in the coastal districts.

Navy contingents and special medical teams will be deployed in the areas that will have been affected by the storm.

In its latest weather bulletin, the Met Office said the super cyclone was situated about 785 km southwest of Chattogram port at 3 pm Tuesday as it moved north-northeastwards over west central Bay of Bengal.

The cyclone may cross the Bangladesh coast between Khulna and Chattogram sometime between late Tuesday and Wednesday evening, according to Meteorologist Md Monowar Hossain.

The storm was hurtling towards the coast packing speeds of about 200 kph rising to 220 kph in gusts or squalls within 85 km of its centre.  The sea will remain very high near the super cyclone's centre, said Monowar.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department has advised the maritime ports of Mongla and Payra to keep hoisted Danger Signal No. 7 while issuing a Danger Signal No. 6 for Chattogram and Cox's Bazar.