Bangladesh evacuating 1.5m people as Cyclone Hamoon approaches

Official says vulnerable people in 10 coastal districts to be taken to shelters

DHAKA:

Bangladesh has started evacuating about 1.5 million people from its 10 coastal districts as Cyclone Hamoon turned severe on Tuesday, according to officials.

The government has taken all necessary measures to evacuate 1.5 million people from the vulnerable areas and take them to the government shelters in 10 coastal districts, Enamur Rahman, the state minister for disaster management and relief, said in a media briefing on Tuesday.

He said the storm is likely to cross coastal Bangladesh between late night and tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department in its weather forecast said that the depression over the west-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining area moved north-northeast, and intensified into a severe cyclonic storm.

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It is likely to cross the southeastern Barishal-Chattogram coast near Bhola by Wednesday noon, it said, adding that maritime ports of Payra and Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, and Mongla port have been alerted.

Light to moderate rain and thunder showers accompanied by gusty wind are likely to occur at most places over Dhaka while moderately heavy to very heavy rainfalls are expected in other parts of the country.

In the Indian eastern state of Odisha, the weather department on Tuesday advised fishermen "not to venture into sea along and off Odisha coast and North adjoining central Bay of Bengal" till Oct. 25.