All major maritime ports of Bangladesh have been asked to hoist great danger signal number ten as extremely severe Cyclone Amphan moves closer to the coast.
According to a special bulletin from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s Storm Warning Centre Wednesday morning, maritime ports of Mongla and Payra were raised to great danger signal number ten from signal number seven and Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar have been advised to hoist great danger signal number nine.
Meanwhile, the coastal districts of Noakhali, Feni, Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar, their offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal number nine.
The Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre said the cyclone will maintain wind speed at 150-160 to 180kph, which will be more devastating for the areas it hits.
Total 2,390,307 evacuated
As the country braces for impact, no less than 2,390,307 people have been evacuated to total 14,636 cyclone shelters across the country.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman disclosed the matter in a virtual press briefing held around 2:30pm on Wednesday from his office at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
“We are trying to get everyone evacuated. We are also providing food to those who are now safe at the cyclone shelters. Concerned authorities have required resources at their disposal.
“Necessary medical teams and electricity supply have been provided in the shelters. All those working there have PPEs and other health safety equipment for Covid-19. We are also maintaining social distancing.” he said.
How far is Amphan?
According to the special bulletin, the centre of Cyclone Amphan is set to make landfall on the coast this afternoon or evening, with 200kph to 220kph wind speeds at its centre.
The maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist great danger signal number 10 while Chittagong and Cox's Bazar have been advised to hoist great danger signal number 9.
As of 12pm on Wednesday, the cyclone was centred at about 480km southwest off Chittagong port, 470km southwest off Cox's Bazar port, 290km southwest off Mongla port and 320km southwest of Payra port.
It is likely to move in a north-northeasterly direction and may cross West Bengal-Bangladesh coast near Sundarbans in the afternoon or evening.
The maximum sustained wind speed within 85kms of the cyclone centre is about 200kph rising to 220kph in gusts/ squalls. The sea will remain very high near the cyclone centre.
Warning for coastal districts
The coastal districts of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhalakati, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barisal, Laxmipur, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal number 10.
The maritime ports of Chittagong and Cox's Bazar have been advised to keep hoisted great danger signal number nine.
Coastal districts of Noakhali, Feni, Chittagong, and Cox's Bazar and their offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal number nine.
Storm surge warning
Under the influence of the cyclone and the end day of last quarter moon, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhalakati, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barisal, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni, Chittagong and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 10-15 feet height above normal astronomical tide.
Wind warning
The coastal districts of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhalakati, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barisal, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni, Chittagong and their offshore islands and chars are likely to experience wind speed up to 140-160 kph in gusts/ squalls with heavy to very heavy falls during the passage of the cyclone.
All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to take shelter immediately and will remain in shelter till further notice.
Amphan downgraded to ‘extremely severe cyclonic storm’
Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, Amphan, initially categorized as a super cyclone, was downgraded to an “extremely severe cyclonic storm” as it lost wind speed while advancing towards Bangladesh coast.
In a virtual press briefing on Tuesday afternoon, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Enamur Rahman urged people to be in the cyclone shelters before 8pm Tuesday, as there will be no scope to take people to the shelters as it would be too dangerous for everyone, including government workers and volunteers, to be in the field after danger signal 10 is hoisted on Wednesday morning.
Two million people will be accommodated in 12,078 shelters which have been prepared to take in people while maintaining one-metre social distance to stay safe from the Covid-19 pandemic, he added.
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has allotted Tk50 lakh in cash, Tk31 lakh for baby food, Tk2.8 lakh for dairy feed, 3,100 tons of rice and 42,000 packets of biscuits as assistance for 19 districts. All of them are coastal districts except Faridpur, Madaripur, Feni, and Shariatpur.
