Evacuation in Coastal Areas Begins As Cyclone Amphan Nearing

The authorities concerned have started to evacuate more than two million people to cyclone shelters in order to prevent fatalities when the cyclone storm Amphan bears down the coast.

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman told the media that people threatened by a cyclone in coastal districts will be evacuated to safety by 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Storm alerts will be raised to the maximum level at 6 am Wednesday, he said.

The cyclone is forecast to strike at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, the Minister said at a virtual press briefing on Tuesday. 

“So our goal is to move out al people in vulnerability to safety,” Rahman said.

Describing the severe cyclonic storm as a new danger amid the coronavirus outbreak, Enamur said, “Bangladesh is viewed as ‘a role model’ when it comes to calamity management.”

The evacuees have been advised to wear face masks and maintain physical distance from each other upon arriving at the storm shelters, he added.

"A total of 12,078 cyclone shelters have been set up in the coastal areas. The shelters have the total ability to hold more than 5.1 million people, but all arrangements have been made in the aftermath of the Coronavirus Outbreak Health and Safety Guidelines. That's why we agreed to evacuate more than 2 million people residing in high-risk areas.

The government has also formed a medical team to supply urgent medicine while Navy and army personnel are working to evacuate people from low-lying areas.

"All the relevant ministries are on alert. All fishing boats and trawlers have been advised to take shelter immediately and remain there until further notice," said Enamur.

Two Navy ships left for evacuation from remote shoals in Satkhira, said the Inter Services Public Relations Directorate or ISPR.

The Navy deployed a total of 25 ships as part of a three-tier emergency rescue, relief and medical operation immediately following the storm.

Two maritime patrol aircraft and two helicopters were also at the ready to conduct search operations over the Bay of Bengal and in the coastal districts.

Navy contingents and special medical teams will be deployed in areas affected by the storm.

In its latest weather forecast, the Met Office reported that the super cyclone was centered approximately 785 km southwest of the port of Chattogram at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, as it pushed north-northeast through the central west of the Bay of Bengal.

The cyclone may cross the Bangladesh coast between Khulna and Chattogram sometime between late Tuesday and Wednesday evening, according to Meteorologist Md Monowar Hossain.

The storm hit the coast with speeds of about 200 km / h rising to 220 km / h in gusts or squalls within 85 km of its centre. The sea will remain very strong in the middle of the super-cyclone, Monowar said.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department has advised the maritime ports of Mongla and Payra to keep hoisted Danger Signal No. 7 while issuing a Danger Signal No. 6 for Chattogram and Cox's Bazar.