Cyclone kills 11 in Bangladesh, forces thousands from homes
UPDATED:
DHAKA: A cyclone unleashed heavy rain and strong winds on Bangladesh's southern coastal region on Saturday, killing at least 11 people and forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes.
Local media say the deaths were caused by the collapse of houses in Bhola, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Patuakhali districts. Cyclone Roanu crossed the southern coastal district of Cox's Bazar and weakened after triggering rains.
The meteorological office said in a statement that dozens of villages had been submerged by floodwaters.
Mohammed Ali Hossain, a government administrator, said about 100,000 people were forced from their homes on Moheshkhali island in Cox's Bazar. "Our teams are working there. We are arranging dry food for them and other resources they need urgently," he said.
Mohammed Ullah, a local council chief, said the island was flooded in no time by the impact of the cyclone. "The islanders were preparing to go to cyclone shelters following a forecast that the cyclone was expected to hit in the afternoon or in the evening, but suddenly waters started coming. Most islanders have moved to safety," he said.
Bangladesh, a delta nation, is prone to deadly cyclones.
Five killed as cyclone Roanu starts to batter Bangladesh
DHAKA: A cyclone battered the coast of Bangladesh on Saturday killing at least five people after lashing India's east coast with heavy rain and wind.
Authorities in low-lying Bangladesh have relocated about 500,000 people into 3,500 shelters, the disaster minister said, even as Cyclone Roanu killed three people in house collapses and two in landslides.
"We've shifted most of the people who are vulnerable," Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya told a news conference.
"All-out preparations are in place to tackle the damage".
Officials suspended flights at Chittagong airport in the southeast while the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority imposed restrictions on the movement of all ships and ferries.
"The sea will remain very rough near the cyclone centre," it said.
The storm had begun crossing the coast near Chittagong and was expected to have moved inland within four or five hours, the weather office said.
