Six Killed As Cyclone Mora Hits Bangladesh, Hundreds Of Thousands Evacuated

Under Cyclone Mora's influence, strong winds with rain and thundershowers were continuing over North Bay, coastal districts and maritime ports of Bangladesh.

Dhaka: At least six people were killed as Cyclone Mora made landfall in Bangladesh today, bringing winds of up to 150 kilometres per hour and damaging several houses. The authorities scrambled to evacuate over half-a-million people from Bangladesh's coastal areas. In a special bulletin, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said the severe cyclonic storm Mora moved northward over North Bay and started crossing Cox's Bazar-Chittagong coast at 6 am.

Cyclone Mora is likely to move in a northerly direction further, the BMD said. One of the six people died of a heart attack during the storm, while others were killed by falling trees and houses in Cox's Bazar and Rangamati, local media reported.

Under Cyclone Mora's influence, strong winds with rain and thundershowers were continuing over North Bay, coastal districts and maritime ports of Bangladesh, the Daily Star reported.

"Wind speed is estimated at 130 kmph in Saint Martins Island and 150 kmph at Cox's Bazar port after it hit the area between 6 am and 7 am," weather official AKM Nazmul Haque said.

All flights to and from Chittagong international airport and Cox's Bazar airport were suspended. At least three lakh people have been taken to shelters in more than 10 districts most vulnerable to Cyclone Mora, BD News quoted Additional Secretary Golam Mostafa, a spokesman for the disaster management ministry's control room, as saying.

"The people were moved out to at least 400 cyclone shelters or safer places like schools and government offices in the coastal areas," a disaster management ministry spokesman said.

There are also concerns over thousands of Rohingya refugees living in makeshift homes after fleeing violence in neighbouring Myanmar. At least 2.5 million people in 10 districts risk coming in the way of Cyclone Mora.

The districts at risk were Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barisal and Pirojpur. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was monitoring the situation from Vienna, where she has gone to attend a conference on atomic energy.

"The prime minister is maintaining round-the-clock communication with Dhaka on the storm situation. She has ordered all-out preparation to tackle the storm," said Ihsanul Karim, the prime minister's press secretary.

Under the influence of the cyclonic storm, low-lying areas of the coastal districts and their offshore islands were likely to be inundated by a storm surge four- or five-feet high above normal astronomical tide, the BMD said. All fishing boats and trawlers in the North Bay and far out in the sea have been asked to take shelter till further notice.

The BMD issued the highest level of warning signal in a scale of 10 for two ports after Cyclone Mora developed into a severe cyclonic storm. Habibur Rahman, a member of Saint Martin's Island Union Parishad, told Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo that several houses were damaged in the island today morning.

Bangladesh is often hit by storms between April and December, causing deaths and widespread destruction. Cyclone Roanu hit the southern coast of Bangladesh last year, killing 20 people and forcing half-a-million to flee. Mora Cyclone formed after heavy rains in Sri Lanka caused floods and landslides killing over 180 people.

Cyclone mora attacks on Chittagong

cyclone mora attacks on Chittagong
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Cyclone mora attacks on Chittagong

Cyclone mora attacks on Chittagong

Cyclone Mora attacking with heavy rain and wind 96 kmh on Chittagong

Bangladesh Braces for Tropical Cyclone Mora's Landfall; Storm Surge Flooding, Rainfall Flooding, Damaging Winds Expected

Tropical Cyclone Mora Landfall Expected Soon

Meteorologist Ari Sarsalari forecasts the expected path of Tropical Cyclone Mora in the Bay of Bengal. 

Story Highlights Tropical Cyclone Mora will landfall in Bangladesh by midday Tuesday, local time (early Tuesday morning U.S. EDT). Storm surge of up to 5 feet above normal tides is forecast. Damaging winds and rainfall flooding are also expected. An inland threat of flooding and mudslides will persist as Mora moves north. Tropical Cyclone Mora is headed for a landfall in Bangladesh by midday Tuesday, local time, with high winds and flooding from both storm surge and rainfall along a coast historically vulnerable to deadly storm surge.
Tropical Cyclone Mora was centered less than 200 miles south of Chittagong, Bangladesh, as of early Tuesday morning, local time, with winds estimated of strong tropical storm force, according to the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). Bangladesh is 10 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

The highest cloud tops, corresponding to the most vigorous convection, are shown in the brightest red colors. The center of the low-pressure system expected to develop is located in the central Bay of Bengal.

Mora has become a "severe cyclonic storm," or the equivalent of a strong tropical storm, and should intensify slightly more before landfall near Chittagong in the midday hours Tuesday, local time.

Chittagong  is the country's second largest city, with a metro area population of roughly 4 million.

Forecast Path

The red-shaded area denotes the potential path of the center of the tropical cyclone. Note that impacts (particularly heavy rain, high surf, coastal flooding) with any tropical cyclone may spread beyond its forecast path.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has posted a "danger signal number ten" for the coastal districts of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars for the equivalent of strong tropical storm-force winds.

Wind gusts capable of tree damage and some structural damage are also expected as the center of the cyclone passes near or over southeast Bangladesh.

BMD warns  4 to 5 feet normal tide level as the center of Mora arrives Tuesday, piling water from the Bay of Bengal into the above coastal districts. 

Potential storm surge flooding from Tropical Cyclone Mora in southeast Bangladesh indicated by aqua-colored arrows.  (Google Maps)

Torrential rainfall is expected along, north and to the east of the track over eastern Bangladesh, northeast India and western Myanmar, extending northward to the foothills of the Himalayas. This includes the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka, home to over 10 million, one of the world's most densely populated cities.

This heavy rainfall extending well inland could trigger life-threatening flooding and, in mountainous areas, mudslides.

Rainfall Potential Through Wednesday

Much heavier rain may occur where rainbands train across the same area for several hours.

Bay of Bengal tropical cyclones have a notoriously deadly history.

As meteorologist Chris Dolce laid out in a previous article, the northern Bay of Bengal is one of the most storm-surge-prone coastlines in the world due to a combination of dense population, very flat terrain near the coast, the narrowing of the bay on its northern edge, the shallow bathymetry of the bay and numerous small inlets.

Of the 12 tropical cyclones on record that have claimed at least 100,000 lives, eight of those formed in the Bay of Bengal, according to Weather Underground.

One of these, the infamous Great Bhola Cyclone, killed at least 300,000 in November 1970, the world's deadliest tropical cyclone of record.

In more recent times, Cyclone Nargis in 2008 devasted the Irrawaddy Delta region of Myanmar, claiming at least 130,000 lives.

(MORE: Which Countries Get Hit Most by Tropical Cyclones?)

Less intense storms have also been very deadly in the region.

In 2015, a tropical storm-strength cyclone, Cyclone Komen, hovered near the coast of Bangladesh and brought flooding rain to six countries that killed nearly 500 people. Cyclone Komen made weeks of heavy rainfall even worse as landslides occurred in Myanmar, and more than a million people were evacuated or displaced from Myanmar alone.

Cyclone Mora hits Bangladesh with heavy rain and wind

Cyclone Mora hit Bangladesh, lashing the country's south-eastern coast with heavy rain n wind. The powerful storm made landfall on Today morning between the fishing port of Cox's Bazar and the Chittagong, with winds of up to 119 km/h (74mph), Bangladesh's Meteorological Department said. Authorities have been moving more than one million people to shelters. Parts of India and Myanmar are also expected to be affected. The cyclone's arrival comes after heavy rains in Sri Lanka caused floods and landslides that killed at least 180 people.

Bangladesh's metereological department had previously warned that low-lying areas of Cox's Bazar, Chittagong and many other coastal districts are "likely to be inundated" by a storm surge of 1.2m-1.5m (4-5 feet) above normal levels.

Hundreds of thousands of people had been evacuated to cyclone shelters, schools and government offices as of late Monday.

Fishing boats and trawlers have been advised to remain shelters as well.

Bangladesh is often hit by storms

Cyclone mora

https://youtu.be/aiSLY3gyMRU

Cyclone threatens Bangladesh and Myanmar

THE SEVERE CYCLONIC STORM ‘MORA’ (ECP 990 HPA) OVER NORTH BAY AND ADJOINING EAST CENTRAL BAY MOVED SLIGHTLY NORTHWARDS AND LIES OVER THE SAME AREA (NEAR LAT 19.0°N AND LONG 91.3°E) AND WAS CENTRED AT 09 PM TODAY (THE 29 MAY 2017) ABOUT 360 KMS SOUTH OF CHITTAGONG PORT, 280 KMS SOUTH OF COX’S BAZAR PORT, 430 KMS SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF MONGLA PORT AND 350 KMS SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF PAYRA PORT. IT IS LIKELY TO INTENSIFY FURTHER, MOVE IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION AND MAY CROSS CHITTAGONG - COX’S BAZAR COAST BY MORNING OF 30 MAY 2017. UNDER THE PERIPHERAL INFLUENCE OF SEVERE CYCLONIC STORM ‘MORA’ GUSTY/SQUALLY WIND WITH RAIN/ THUNDER SHOWERS IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE OVER NORTH BAY AND THE COASTAL DISTRICTS AND MARITIME PORTS OF BANGLADESH. MAXIMUM SUSTaINED WIND SPEED WITHIN 64 KMS OF THE CYCLONE CENTRE IS ABOUT 89 KPH RISING TO 117 KPH IN GUSTS/SQUALLS. SEA WILL REMAIN HIGH NEAR THE SYSTEM. MARITIME PORTS OF CHITTAGONG AND COX’S BAZAR HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO KEEP HOISTED GREAT DANGER SIGNAL NUBMER TEN (R) TEN. COASTAL DISTRICTS OF CHITTAGONG, COX’S BAZAR, NOAKHALI, LAXMIPUR, FENI, CHANDPUR AND THEIR OFFSHORE ISLANDS AND CHARS WILL COME UNDER DANGER SIGNAL NUMBER TEN (R) TEN. MARITIME PORTS OF MONGLA AND PAYRA HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO KEEP HOISTED GREAT DANGER SIGNAL NUBMER EIGHT (R) EIGHT. COASTAL DISTRICTS OF BHOLA, BORGUNA, PATUAKHALI, BARISAL, PIROZPUR, JHALOKATHI, BAGHERHAT, KHULNA, SATKHIRA AND THEIR OFFSHORE ISLANDS AND CHARS WILL COME UNDER DANGER SIGNAL NUMBER EIGHT (R) EIGHT. UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE SEVERE CYCLONIC STORM ‘MORA’ THE LOW-LYING AREAS OF THE COASTAL DISTRICTS OF COX’S BAZAR, CHITTAGONG, NOAKHALI, LAXMIPUR, FENI, CHANDPUR, BORGUNA, BHOLA, PATUAKHALI, BARISAL, PIROZPUR, JHALOKATHI, BAGHERHAT, KHULNA, SATKHIRA AND THEIR OFFSHORE ISLANDS AND CHARS ARE LIKELY TO BE INUNDATED BY STORM SURGE OF 4-5 FEET HEIGHT ABOVE NORMAL ASTRONOMICAL TIDE. THE COASTAL DISTRICTS OF COX’S BAZAR, CHITTAGONG, NOAKHALI, LAXMIPUR, FENI, CHANDPUR, BORGUNA, PATUAKHALI, BARISAL, BHOLA, PIROZPUR, JHALOKATHI, BAGERHAT, KHULNA, SATKHIRA AND THEIR OFFSHORE ISLANDS AND CHARS ARE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE WIND SPEED UP TO 89-117 KPH IN GUSTS/ SQUALLS WITH HEAVY TO VERY HEAVY FALLS DURING THE PASSAGE OF THE SEVERE CYCLONIC STORM. ALL FISHING BOATS AND TRAWLERS OVER NORTH BAY AND DEEP SEA HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO REMAIN IN SHELTER TILL FURTHER NOTICE.Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

Cyclone Mora Likely to Cause Heavy Rain in Northeast

With the deep depression forming in Bay of Bengal, Mora has now become a cyclonic storm and is all set to hit Bangladesh and Myanmar. The Indian Navy on Monday said that it has kept its Eastern Fleet ships at the highest level of readiness to render assistance to Bangladesh if required. The tropical cyclone formed in Bay of Bengal is set to make a landfall in Bangladesh near Chittagong in next 24 hours. North-eastern state of India including Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal are likely to see heavy to very heavy rainfall due to this cyclone. The sea condition along and off Andaman Islands and off West Bengal Coast would be rough. According to the forecast, the storm is going to turn into a severe one between Monday and Tuesday and would become a deep depression by May 31. -ANI

Cyclone Mora: 4 Odisha Districts Put On Alert

Cyclonic storm Mora formed over Bay of Bengal may intensify further. Odisha government on Monday has put four districts-Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Jajpur and Bhadrak on alert.

After reviewing the developments and Met department’s forecast, the revenue and disaster management minister asked the collectors of these four districts to remain vigilant on the situation.

According to reports, the Cyclone ‘Mora’ formed over east-central Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours.

The cyclonic storm Mora is likely to make landfall in Bangladesh near Chittagong.

Apart from Odisha, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal are also likely to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall under its impact.

Cyclone Mora Likely To Cause Heavy Rain In Northeast, Odisha

The deep depression over east-central Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm Mora and is likely to make landfall in Bangladesh near Chittagong in the next 24 hours, the Met department has said.

According to the Met department, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal are likely to see heavy to very heavy rainfall.

The storm will result in squally winds with speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60kmph along and off Andaman Island and adjoining seas during next 48 hours.

Sea condition would be rough to very rough along and off Andaman Islands and off West Bengal Coast in next 24 hours and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.

The storm, according to the forecast, is going to turn into a severe one between Monday and Tuesday and by May 31 it would become a deep depression.

Winds would gust at a speed of 100-130kmph when it turns into a severe cyclonic storm, IMD said.

Sources say the cyclone may also help pull in the monsoon faster towards the mainland. The monsoon is expected to arrive over Kerala anytime now.

Cyclone Vardah, which struck Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in December last year, has caused extensive damage to Chennai city. Nearly the 14,000 trees were uprooted by the cyclone.

The cyclone had also damaged the power supply network in the city.

Signal 7 at maritime ports as Cyclone Mora nears

https://on.windy.com/3sbm

Maritime ports of Chittagong and Cox's Bazar have been advised to hoist danger signal number seven while Mongla and Payra ports signal number five as cyclonic storm “Mora” heads towards Bangladesh’s coasts.

The cyclonic storm moved  slightly north-northeastwards over east-central Bay and adjoining north Bay and was centered about 530kms south-southwest of Chittagong port, 445kms south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 580kms south-southeast of Mongla port and 510kms south-southeast  of Payra port at 9:00am today, according to a special bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

https://on.windy.com/3sbm

It is likely to intensify further and move in a northerly direction and may cross Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar coast by tomorrow morning (Tuesday).

All fishing boats and trawlers over the north-bay and deep sea have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice, according to the Met office.

Coastal districts of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars will come under danger signal number seven, the bulletin said.

Under the influence of the Cyclonic storm “Mora” the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Borguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barisal, Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 4-5 feet height.

The coastal districts and their offshore islands and chars are likely to experience wind speed up to 62-88 kph in gusts/squalls with heavy to very heavy falls during the passage of the cyclonic storm.

Chittagong Port

Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has already ordered to stop loading and unloading of goods from the vessels anchored at the port jetties and the outer anchorage, CPA Secretary Omar Farook told The Daily Star.

Ships anchored at the jetties will also be taken to the sea after high tide starts today so that the jetties at the port are not damaged from the impact of the cyclone, Omar Farook said.

Meanwhile, the district administration has called a meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s office today to talk about preparatory measures regarding the Cyclone ‘Mora’. 

AA

Cyclone Mora to intensify; heavy rains likely in Odisha, Bengal, northeast

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Due to the deep depression, conditions are becoming favourable for the further advance of southwest monsoon.
2. The cyclonic storm is is likely to intensify into a severe cyclone in the next 12 hours.
3. Thuderstorms accompanied with squall are very likely to strike parts of Bengal, Odisha and the northeast.

NEW DELHI: The deep depression over the bay of bengal is gaining strength and has further turned into a cyclonic storm, the Indian Meteorological Department said. The cyclone is likely to intensify into a severe cyclone during the next 12 hours.

Under the influence of the Cyclone 'Mora' over east-central Bay of Bengal, which is likely to intensify further into severe cyclonic storm during next 12 hours, conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some parts of southeast Arabian Sea, southwest Bay of Bengal and east central Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of southeast Bay of Bengal and some parts of west central and northeast Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours, a weather forecast bulletin of the IMD said.

What to do when cyclone hits

Met office has advised danger signal 10 for Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar as cyclone ‘Mora’ is moving closer.

Meteorologists and disaster management volunteers say people can avert losses by following certain guidelines alongside understanding the nature of the disaster.

Medical teams and rescue teams are alert while around 50,000 volunteers are standby in 19 coastal districts.

Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief have set up 24-hour control rooms at each of the Upazilas in these districts that can be reached at 9540454, 9545115, 9549116 and 01715180192.

During a media briefing on Monday, Additional Secretary to the ministry Golam Mostafa ordered local administration to move people from low lands to shelters by evening in the coastal districts.

Some to-dos

· Elderly, autistic and pregnant women must be prioritised when shifting people to shelters.

· Torch light, matchsticks, candles and dry food must be taken along while shifting.

· The cyclone falters temporarily when crossing its centre (called ‘chokh’ in Bangla) but regains ferocity after passing the area. So do not leave shelters assuming the storm is over.

· People in hilly zones must take extra precaution as the downpour that cyclone brings in creates risk of landslides.

Chittagong port activities stopped as Cyclone Mora approaches Bangladesh coast

The Chittagong port management has stopped container handling with Cyclone Mora now barely 450 km off the Bangladesh coast.

The Met office has already advised danger signal No. 7 for Chittagong.

 "Container handling at outer anchorage and jetty has been stopped since 10:30am," Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Omar Faruk told bdnews24.com on Monday.

But packages already unloaded from ships are being delivered, he said.

Leaves have been cancelled for doctors and nurses in the Chittagong district as part of the preparations to deal with the cyclone.

The Chittagong Port has also raised its own alert to level 3. Port workers were securing heavy machinery and its own vessels, said Secretary Faruk.

“The lighter vessels that carry goods are being taken closer to the shore,” he said.

Lighter vessels carry goods from ships lodged in high sea and transport them to the jetty and other places within the country.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority or BIWTA issued cautionary signal No. 2 for all river ports across the country.

Meanwhile, flights were continuing on schedule from the Shah Amanat International Airport, Wing Commander Reazul Kabir told bdnews24.com at 1pm.

“The situation still doesn’t call for closing of operation. But we’ll take all necessary precautions.” 

Cyclone Mora: Evacuation ordered in coastal areas

The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has ordered local authorities to evacuate people living in low-lying coastal areas to safety as Cyclone Mora is bearing down on the shore.

The cyclone brewing in the Bay of Bengal churned north towards Bangladesh's coasts, shutting the country's main port in Chittagong and long-haul river transports from Dhaka to southern districts.

Cyclone Mora expected to make landfall late on Monday night or Tuesday on the Chittagong-Cox's Bazar coast.

Meetings have been held on the evacuation plans in 19 districts along the coast. The authorities since noon have been making announcements by loudspeaker asking people to move to safety. 

“The local bodies have been asked to make arrangements to take people to shelters. They will all be moved to safety by evening,” said the ministry’s Additional Secretary Golam Mostafa.

But he could not say how many will be moved as part of the evacuation.

The cyclone is likely to intensify further and move in a northerly direction and cross Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar coast by Tuesday, the Met Office said in its 3pm bulletin on Monday.

“District and Upazila authorities are on the alert. We have sent enough food this morning according to the needs of people who are in at-risk areas,” Mostafa said.

The government formed medical and rescue teams with personnel from various agencies, said Abu Syed Mohammad Hashim, director at the Disaster Management Department.

Another 50,000 volunteers were on the standby.  

“We are following the cyclone’s path and updating information sitting with our stakeholders,” said Hashim. 

He said there are control rooms set up in all districts and upazilas, in addition to those in departments and divisions under the disaster management ministry.

News from bdnews24

Bangladesh raises danger signal to 10 for Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar ports

Bangladesh upgraded danger signal to 10 for two maritime ports on Monday evening after Mora developed into a severe cyclonic storm. 

The cyclone warning for the ports in Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar has been upgraded to great danger signal No. 10, the weather office said in a special bulletin. 
 
Weather forecasters issued danger signal No. 8 for Mongla and Payra.

Cyclone Mora was centred 385km south of Chittagong port and 305km from Cox’s Bazar port, the meteorological department said in a special bulletin at 6pm. 

The storm system is likely to intensify further as it moves in a northerly direction and make landfall in Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday morning, it said.

Cyclone Mora is expected to cause thunder showers accompanied by gusts in maritime ports and coastal areas. 

The sky in capital Dhaka was cloudy. Heavy thunderstorms have been predicted with temperature dropping to 27 degrees Celsius on Monday night, according to AccuWeather that provides weather forecasting services worldwide. 

On Tuesday, heavy rain with strong winds is expected in the capital. Wind may gather speed of up to 63km and gusts up to 93km per hour, AccuWeather said.