At least 1.2 lakh evacuated in Cox's Bazar
At least 1,27,000 people have been evacuated across Cox's Bazar district so far till 7:00pm tonight.
Bibhishan Kanti Das, additional deputy commissioner (general) of Cox's Bazar confirmed the matter to The Daily Star.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Of them, 4,303 people were evacuated from St Martin's Island, he told reporters this evening.
Around 2,500 people, including children, have taken shelter at Cox's Bazar Municipal Preparatory School from the beach area of Samity para of Ward No 1, Nirupam Sharma, assistant tax collector of Cox's Bazar Municipality, said.
Habiba Khatun, who took shelter at Cox's Bazar Municipal Preparatory School, said they were afraid to stay at their tin shed house, so they have come to the shelter.
Evacuation drives in St Martin's Island began since morning, said Teknaf upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Md Kamruzzaman.
"Different government buildings, hospitals, hotels and motels have been made temporary cyclone shelters on the island. We are taking people from their homes to the shelters," said Kamruzzaman.
Contacted last evening, St Martin's Union Parishad Chairman Mujibur Rahman said, "Our volunteers are still working in the field. They are trying to bring those, who are still staying at their homes, to cyclone shelters," he said.
Meanwhile, Cox's Bazar district administration conducted evacuation campaigns at different spots all day long.
A large number of people from Samitypara, Nazirartek, and Kutubdiapara in Cox's Bazar Sadar upazila and different areas of Ukhiya upazila were evacuated between this afternoon to evening, said Hasanul Amin, deputy director of Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) in Cox's Bazar.
Some 565 cyclone centres, which have the capacity to accommodate over half a million people, have been prepared in Cox's Bazar, according to the district administration officials.
Authorities suspended flight operations in Cox's Bazar airport for today and tomorrow due to Cyclone Mocha.
Comments