People in St Martin's Island are slowly returning to their homes leaving cyclone centres after Cyclone Mocha crossed the island causing less damage than feared.

Mujibur Rahman, chairman of St Martin's Union Parishad, told The Daily Star that about 1,000 houses were damaged by the cyclone. Nearly 100 tourist cottages were also damaged.

He said the islanders are facing a shortage of drinking water in the area.

He said the islanders are slowly returning home from the shelters. However, the elderly, children and ill people are still staying at the cyclone centres.

A woman was slightly injured when a tree fell on her during the storm, the chairman added.