Over 4 lakh people evacuated

More than 4 lakh people have been evacuated and shifted to cyclone shelters as the severe cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ is likely to hit Khulna and southwestern coastal areas of the country by midnight.

Around 404,250 people were taken to cyclone shelters as of Friday morning from vulnerable areas to save their lives from the effects of the storm, said Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Md Shah Kamal in a briefing this afternoon.

The people who are vulnerable to the storm will be brought to the shelters until this evening, he said adding, “The number could be as many as 2.5 million”.

There are 4,071 cyclone shelters in the country have been kept prepared for providing shelter to the storm affected people, Kamal said while briefing at his ministry office.  

Members from the navy, coastguard, police, ansar, VDP, volunteers and political activists are taking part in the evacuation efforts, he said.

He said the government is planning to shift around 21 lakh to 25 lakh people from the vulnerable areas of the country’s costal belts by this evening.

Kamal said the government has already sent Tk 10 lakh to 15 lakh to the respective district administrations to face challenges of the cyclonic storm.

Apart from these, adequate amount of medicine, pure water, dry food and necessary goods and medical teams have already been sent to all the cyclone shelters, he added.

“The strength of Fani has already weakened and it may hit Bangladesh around 6:00pm. I think, we will not be affected severely due to the storm Fani,” he said.

DANGER LEVEL IN COASTAL AREAS

The signal at Mongla and Payra ports have been raised to danger level 7. The danger signal-7 also has been hoisted across the coastal lines of Patuakhali, Bhola, Borguna, Barishal, Pirojpur Jhalakathi, Bagerhat, Khulna, and Satkhira.

Meanwhile, Chattogram port has been asked to hoist danger signal 6. The signal 6 also has been hoisted in Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur.

Khulna and adjacent districts are expected to witness the effects of Fani from this morning. By evening, the cyclone will reach southwestern districts.