As the severe cyclonic storm—Cyclone Mocha—is garnering strength in the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas, Bangladesh is bracing itself. Cyclone Mocha is expected to hit coastal regions of Bangladesh on Sunday, May 14th.
Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) predicted on Friday, May 12th, that the maximum sustained wind speed within the 74km radius of Cyclone Mocha’s epicentre is around 120kph and will rise to 140kmph in gusts or squalls.
The BMD also announced that the Bay of Bengal will have high tides near the cyclone’s centre. According to the BMD, Cyclone Mocha, which was 1,095km south-southwest of the Chittagong port, 1,025km south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar port and 1,055km south-southwest of Payra port, will intensify in the coming hours and will be moving north-northeastwards.
According to the BMD, the maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Payra have been advised to lower local warning signal no four (R) four, but hoist great danger signal no eight (R) eight. Maritime ports of Mongla have been advised to keep hoisted local warning signal no four (R) four.
The local administration in Cox’s Bazar has been making preparations to prevent the loss of lives and properties before the landfall on a war footing. It’s expected that the district will bear the brunt of Cyclone Mocha.
According to Cox’s Bazar district’s deputy commissioner Muhammad Shaheen Imran, a total of 576 cyclone centres have been prepared to shelter 550,990 people, reported United News of Bangladesh (UNB).
The government has readied Tk 1.03m, 490 tonnes of rice and 194 bundles of corrugated iron sheet have been readied for humanitarian help to the people during the disaster. Moreover, the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry has allocated Tk 100,000, 50 tons of rice and 7 tons of dry food items for the disaster.
According to the UNB’s reports, 409 cyclone centres have been opened in Khulna and 446 cyclone centres have been opened in Bagerhat district to accommodate affected people. Around 98% of boro paddy has been harvested in Bagerhat to save the crops from the cyclone.
In Bhola district, the administration has opened 746 shelters, which can accommodate around 563,000 people. Eight control rooms have been prepared to manage the situation, the UNB reported.
While over 90% of fishermen who went to the sea have returned, the officials of the Fisheries Department and the coast guards are trying to bring the rest of the fishermen back before the landfall of Cyclone Mocha.
