SIDR advances closer to coast; Great danger signals 10 for Mongla, 9 for Ctg, Cox’s BazarUNB, Dhaka
The severe cyclonic storm codenamed SIDR with a core of hurricane winds advanced closer to the country’s southern coast this evening as the seaports hoisted “great danger” signal No 10, the highest warning from the meteorologists.
A latest Met Office special bulletin said great danger signal No 10 was advised to hoist for Mongla seaport while great danger signal No 9 for Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar seaports.
The bulletin said the storm over east central bay and adjoining area moved northwards and intensified further on its way towards the coast.
“It is likely to intensify further and move in a northerly direction and may cross southern Khulna-Barisal coast by tomorrow noon,” warned the Met Office in its bulletin.
The cyclone of hurricane intensity was centered at about 755 kms south-southwest of Chittagong port, 675 kms south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar port and 705 kms south of Mongla port at 6pm.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 74 kms of the storm centre is about 190 kph, rising as high as 210 kph in gusts or squalls. “Sea will remain very high,” the Met Office warned.
Under the influence of the cyclone, the coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barisal, Chandpur, Barguna, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to experience gusty or squally wind at a speed of 60-80 kph or more.
“The low-lying areas of these coastal districts are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 8-10 feet height above normal astronomical tide,” said the note of warning, as volunteers already started evacuating people from the coastal localities.
All fishing-boats and trawlers over the North Bay have been advised to remain in shelter until further notice.
Meanwhile, the government has directed all volunteers in the coastal districts to remain alert in view of the advancing violent storm.
A control room has been opened at the Food and Disaster Management Ministry for round-the-clock collection of information about the hurricane and maintaining communications on the matter. The telephone numbers of the control room are 7160454, 7162116 and 7164115.
Besides, telephone numbers of the control room of the Storm Warning Centre of Meteorological Department are 913 5742 and 811 3071 while the telephone number of the control room of the Disaster Management Bureau is 885 9638. The telephone number of the control room of Hurricane Preparedness Programme is 935 3625 while those of Relief and Rehabilitation Department are 989 1926 and 988 6606.
A report from the UNB district correspondent said all the vessels of Chittagong port outer-anchorage were ordered to stop offloading goods from 8:00am today for the warning of cyclone ‘Sidr’ until giving further notice.
Chittagong Port Authority also advised the ships which were anchored at Jetty of the port to leave the port after offloading goods “immediately”.
Control rooms were set up in all the coastal upazilas for disseminating information about the mighty cyclone. The people of the coastal areas were warned to take shelter in safer places through loudspeakers after 12:00pm.
It has been drizzling in the port city throughout the day under the impact of the storm.
Reports from different other coastal districts said people panicked after the hoisting of great danger signal for the country’s seaports.
Cyclone in November usually takes a violent turn, and the 1970 catastrophe still haunts their memory.
People are being evacuated from the coastal areas and shifted to shelter centres. In Bagerhat, District and Upazila administrations have urged people over loudspeaker to take shelter in safer places.
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