DHAKA, May 18, 2020 (BSS) – Bangladesh authorities today ordered
intensified preparedness as the southern coastlines visibly brace for a
cyclone called Amphan feared to be a “very severe one” with met office
issuing its high “danger signal number 7” in a scale of 10.
Meteorologists said the powerful cyclone in the Bay of Bengal was heading
directly for the Bangladesh coastlines bordering India bringing with it the
potential for major destruction and upheaval in both the countries, amid
their extreme preoccupation with coronavirus pandemic.
Disaster management ministry officials said preparedness were ordered to
launch a massive evacuation tomorrow as the cyclone was likely to hit the
coastlines by May 20 afternoon.
Meteorologists feared the Amphsan wraths to be very high as its high
strength coincided with the “new moon phase” to washout and inundate vast
areas of particularly southwestern and central coastlines stretching up to
Chottogram.
Meteorologists equated the Amphan’s strength to be of a strong “Category 4
Atlantic hurricane or a super typhoon” in the West Pacific.
The CNN television quoting experts reported that even if the storm
weakened ahead of its landfall, it could cause significant damage there is
also the potential for major storm surges, “perhaps even as high as 30 feet
(9 meters)”.
“The district administration in 19 most vulnerable southwestern coastal
districts were asked to take all preparedness to save peoples life,” disaster
management ministry secretary Shah Kamal, meanwhile, told BSS.
He said 13,078 cyclone shelters were readied as local authorities were
directed to move out at least 18 to 20 lkah people to safety as Amphan
appeared to have gaining strength while proceeding towards the coast.
Kamal said huge quantum of rice and cash amount of money was channeled in
favour of the district administrations in coastal areas alongside food for
children, dry food and cattle feed.
The meteorological department in its latest “special bulletin” no 18 issued
at this afternoon called Amphan to be a “VERY SEVERE CYCLONIC STORM” and
added it now moved northwards and intensified over the west central bay and
adjoining south bay (lat. 14.2øn, long. 86.4øe).
It said the storm was found to be centred at 3 pm this evening about 1075
km south-southwest of Chattogram Port, 1015 km south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar
Port, 985 km south-southwest of Mongla Port and 970 km South-southwest of
Payra Port.
“It is likely to intensify further and move in a northerly direction and
then re-curve north-northeastwards and may cross Bangladesh coast between
Khulna-Chattogram during late night 19 may 2020 to afternoon/evening 20 May
2020,” the bulletin read.
It said wind speed within 85 kms of the cyclone centre was measured to be
210 kph which was rising to 220 kph along with gusts and squalls turning the
sea to be very rough and high.
“Maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to lower local
warning signal no. Four but instead hoist Danger Signal Nubmer Seven (r)
Seven,” the bulletin read.
It added that the coastal districts of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagherhat,
Jhalokathi, Pirozpur, Borguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Laxmipur,
Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars will come under danger signal
number seven (r) seven.
The met office simultaneously asked Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar ports hoist
“danger signal no 6” downing the previously issued “local warning signal no
4”.
Coastal districts of Noakhali, Feni, Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar and their
offfshore Iislands and shoals would come under the purview of these two
maritime southeastern ports and thus the “Danger Signal Number Six”.
Officials and reports from the coastal districts said volunteers and
officials came out with megaphones asking people to get ready to move to
safety and cyclone shelters maintaining physical distancing.
“The weather, however, remained hot in most of the southwestern region,
which appeared to be a prelude to a major cyclone,” a BSS journalist reported
from Khulna.
The bulletin said the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Satkhira,
Khulna, Bagherhat, Jhalokathi, Pirozpur, Borguna, Patuakhali, Bhola,
Barishal, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni, Chattogram and their offshore
islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surgeof 4-5 feet height
above normal astronomical tide.
It said these districts and their shoals were likely to witness wind speed
up to 140-160 kph in gusts/ squalls with heavy to very heavy falls when the
storm would cross them.
“All fishing boats and trawlers over north bay and deep sea have been
advised to take shelter immediately and remain in shelter till further
notice,” the bulletin read.