Cyclone ‘Amphan’: 12,078 Shelter Centres Ready in Coastal Areas

A total of 12,078 shelter centers have been set up in 19 coastal areas as the 'Amphan' cyclone has strengthened and is expected to strike southwest Bangladesh between Tuesday and Wednesday, said Dr Md Enamur Rahman, Minister of State for Disaster Management and Relief.

The Minister of State made a statement in an online press briefing at his office in the Ministry on Monday.

The districts in risk are Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Patuakhali, Barguna, Bhola, Pirojpur, Barishal, Jhalakathi, Noakhali, Feni, Chandpur, Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar, Faridpur, Madaripur, Gopalganj and Shariatpur.

Som 31,000 metric tonnes of rice, cash Tk 50 lakh, Tk 31 lakh for child food, Tk 28 lakh for domestic animal food and 42,000 packets of other foods were sent to these districts, Enamur said.

People are already evacuated in Satkhira, and people from other districts will be taken to shelters from Tuesday morning, he said.

Adequate dry food and cattle food were reserved in the shelters and more will be allocated according to the request of the Deputy Commissioner's Office, he added.

Deputy Commissioners are directed to keep alternative measures for communication as electricity may be unavailable during the disaster, State Minister said.

The severe cyclonic storm is approaching Bangladesh and expected to make landfall between Tuesday and Wednesday, he said.

At 3pm on Monday, ‘Amphan’ was centered about 1,075km South-Southwest of Chattogram Port, 1,015km South-Southwest of Cox’s Bazar Port, 985km South-Southwest of Mongla Port and 970km South-Southwest of Payra Port, he added.

Meanwhile, on Monday evening, the Met Office stated that the maximum sustained wind speed within 85 km of the cyclone 's eye is about 210kph in gusts / squalls to 220kph.

Maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to signal danger seven while Chattogram and Cox's Bazar have been advised to signal danger six.

Source: UNB