Cyclone Mocha: 13,000 houses damaged in Cox's Bazar

Nearly 13,000 houses in 57 unions and three municipality areas in Cox's Bazar were destroyed by Cyclone Mocha today.

Among those 10,469 houses were partially damaged, while 2,522 huts were completely destroyed.

The storm crossed Cox's Bazar-North Myanmar coast near Sittwe at 3:00pm today and lies over the land area of Myanmar.

The photo was taken from Shahporir Dwip in Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar on May 14, 2023. Photo: Prabir Das/Star

Cox's Bazar district administration has prepared a preliminary list of damage due to Mocha.

According to the district administration, around 3.34 lakh people in eight upazilas of the district were affected due to Cyclone Mocha. Nearly 2.37 lakh people have taken shelter in the cyclone centres.

Photo: Collected

Cox's Bazar Additional Deputy Commissioner Bibhishan Kanti Das said some people including men, women and children are returning to their homes from cyclone shelters as the danger of cyclone Mocha has passed.

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

He said now there is a shortage of drinking water in the area.

He said the islanders are slowly returning home from the shelters. However, 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.