by Sahidul Hasan Khokon: With ‘extremely severe cyclonic storm’Mocha’ is coming near the coast of Bangladesh From the Bay of Bengal, concerns are rising in the country’s coastal areas and ports. The country’s weather office raised the storm warning to major danger signal number 8 by four degrees for three ports and 12 districts.
The three ports are Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar and Payra. Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalkati, Pirojpur and Barguna districts will also come under Great Danger Signal No.8. Mongla sea port was also asked to display local warning signal number 4 from Friday afternoon.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department said in a special bulletin on Friday night that the maximum sustained wind speed within 74 km of the storm center was about 140 kmph, which increased to 160 kmph.
Dr Tanzeer Saif Ahmed, in-charge of the Cox’s Bazar Meteorological Office, confirmed the information and said that the cyclone is located 965 km from Mongla port, 1,005 km from Chittagong, 935 km from Cox’s Bazar and 930 km from Payra Sagar port. It is likely to intensify further and make landfall on Sunday.
The weather office said that Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar could experience storm-driven wind 8-12 feet above normal levels under the peripheral effect of the storm. The storm surge is likely to be 5-7 feet above normal in other districts with high danger signal.
The Meteorological Department said, “Shelter until further notice.”
All fishing boats and trawlers in the Bay of Bengal have been asked to come aboard safely, the officials claimed.
Meanwhile, after issuing warning signal number 4, Mongla port authorities issued ‘caution signal warning number 2’.
Sources said that the operation of cargo transportation in commercial vessels at the port has not been stopped at present. However, if the warning signal is extended further, operations will be suspended.
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Azad Kabir, in-charge of the Karamjal Wildlife and Breeding Centre, said, “Due to the effect of cyclone Mocha, the water level in Sundarbans has risen by one and a half feet above the normal tide.”
He further said that the work of safe evacuation of wild animals in Karamjal Ecological Park is going to happen very soon.
Cox’s Bazar Additional Deputy Commissioner Abu Sufiyan said awareness campaigns are being conducted in coastal areas to educate residents about the possible risks.
He also said that the precautionary measures include shifting of people from vulnerable coastal and nearby areas to cyclone shelters and coast guard stations.
He said that the disaster response and rescue teams are fully prepared to deal with any emergency.
In preparation for possible disasters, a total of 576 shelters have been set up, capable of accommodating 505,990 persons.
“Adequate supplies of cash, dry food, wheat and rice have been made. Volunteers and medical teams are on standby, and a dedicated control room has been set up,” said Abu Sufyan.
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About 3,400 volunteers have been trained to deal with potential disasters in the Rohingya camps located in Cox’s Bazar.
Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Mizanur Rahman said the refugees have also been informed to gear up with necessary preparations.
All fishing boats and trawlers in the northern Bay of Bengal have been directed to seek safe harbor without delay.
Meteorologists estimate that the cyclone is currently moving in the north-northwest direction. If this continues, the cyclone may soon hit Bangladesh by Sunday afternoon.
The weather official also predicted that the cyclone could cross the coast between Cox’s Bazar and Kyawpyu in Myanmar. However, the Typhoon Warning Center said that the strength of the Mocha cyclone could exceed 200 km at that time.
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Office, as of 12 noon on Friday, the cyclone was located 1005 km south-southwest of Chittagong sea port and 935 km from Cox’s Bazar sea port, while Mongla was 965 km south-southwest and Payra 930 km. Kilometers to the south. -Southwest. Sustained wind speeds of 130 km/h were recorded near the center of the cyclone, with gusts reaching 150 km/h.
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In the next six hours starting from 6 am on Friday, the cyclone continued to move in a north-northeast direction with a speed of 11 km/h. As the cyclone approached the coast, heavy rainfall was expected along with tidal surges in coastal low-lying areas, with tides predicted to be 2 to 2.7 meters above normal.
Abu Sufiyan, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Cox’s Bazar, said that the effect of cyclone Mocha moving from the deep sea towards the coast is now visible in Cox’s Bazar.
He said that from 2.40 pm on Friday, there was moderate rain for half an hour and then there was drizzling.
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According to Abdur Rehman, assistant meteorologist at the Meteorological Department’s Cox’s Bazar regional office, the sky is covered with dark clouds and intermittent rain is expected.
A senior official of Sea Safe Life Guards, responsible for beach security, said the sea condition was rougher than normal due to the cyclone.
Lifeguard worker Mohammad Shukkur said red flags were raised to alert tourists, who were forbidden from going knee-deep in the water.
The Additional District Executive Magistrate of Cox’s Bazar confirmed that if signal number 4 is issued, the use of the beach will be completely restricted based on the instructions of the administration.
Amid concerns, residents have begun evacuations from the country’s southernmost coral island, Saint Martin, and are relocating to the mainland. More than two hundred families, mainly from the island’s Konarpara, Galchipa, Dailpara and Uttar Para, have reached Teknaf on Thursday and Friday.
On Friday afternoon, several families and their belongings were transported to Shahpari in Sabrang union of Teknaf upazila.
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