Bangladesh evacuates 2.4m people to cyclone shelters as Amphan eyes coast

Bangladesh has evacuated about 2.4 million people as Cyclone Amphan barrels towards the country's coastline.

More than 500,000 livestock have also been moved to safety, according to State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman.

Local authorities have been instructed shift people in vulnerable areas to storm shelters, the state minister said in an online media briefing on Wednesday.

The number of cyclone shelters has also been raised to 14,336 where 2.39 million people, the largest tally of people to be ever evacuated, are taking refuge.

A medical team stands ready with emergency medicines while masks and hand sanitizers are being provided to those arriving at the shelters, said Enamur. 

Social distancing rules are being enforced in all the cyclone centres, according to the authorities.

Many are also taking shelter in one of 120 shelters in Bhasan Char, Enamur said.

"They are under the supervision of the Navy and all kinds of measures have been taken for them."

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has elevated the storm alert to great danger signal 9 for Chattogram and Cox's Bazar ports as the very severe cyclonic storm reached within 290 km of the country’s coastline.

Mongla and Payra ports have been asked to keep hoisted great danger signal No. 10.

The cyclone is expected to cut its path through the Bangladesh and West Bengal coast near the Sundarbans on Wednesday evening, according to the Met Office.

Last year, 1.8 million people were taken to the shelters ahead of Cyclone Fani while another 2.2 million were moved to safety from the imminent dangers of Cyclone Bulbul.

In Jhalakathi, almost 10,000 riverside inhabitants of Sugandha Char, Rajapur, Bishkhali and Nalchhiti have been evacuated to cyclone shelters.

Bagerhat, another coastal district, had more than 90,000 of its residents including children, senior citizens and specially-abled persons moved to 977 cyclone shelters as of Wednesday morning, said Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Kamrul Islam.

About 12,000 volunteers are working at the shelters where a special emphasis is being placed on maintaining social distancing amid the coronavirus crisis.

Local administration and the Red Crescent Society supplied food, safe drinking water and candles to the people taking refuge at the shelter homes.

Around 13,000 livestock have also been moved to safety as the storm approaches the coastline, said the additional deputy commissioner.