No more evacuation possible from St Martin’s, officials say

Rain has started in Teknaf and Ukhiya upazilas of Cox's Bazar while St Martin's Island is experiencing drizzle accompanied by gusty wind since this morning.

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kamruzzaman said no more evacuation from St Martin's is possible as the sea is rough.

"We didn't bring anyone from out of St. Martin's. People on their own initiative came to Teknaf from St Martin's," he said.

The rest will be taken to the 37 shelter centres of the island by 4:00pm, the UNO said, adding that there are about 8,000 residents in St Martin's.

Mahim Chowdhury, a visitor who come to Teknaf from St Martin's, said about 3,000 people have been evacuated from the island. "Some of my family members are in St Martin's. I heard it from them," Mahim said.

Mujibur Rahman, chairman of St Martin's Island, said, "We are going door-to-door and urging people to go to safe places. Many are paying heed while some are not interested."

Talking to The Daily Star, Meteorologist Bazlur Rashid said, "According to the latest bulletin, the maximum sustained wind speed within 74 kilometers of the centre of the very severe cyclone is 160 kilometers per hour. It is rising to 175km in the form of gusts or squalls along the main storm."

"The storm is moving northeastward from its origin at a speed of 8 kilometres per hour. It was centred about 815km south-southwest of Chattogram port, 745km south-southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 785km south of Mongla port and 745km south of Payra port at 6:00am today. It is likely to intensify further and cross Cox's Bazar-north Myanmar coast between 6:00am and 6:00pm on May 14," he said.

Bazlur Rashid said, "The impact of the very severe cyclonic storm is likely to start in the coastal areas of Chattogram and Barishal divisions from tonight."

Maritime ports of Cox's Bazar and Chattogram have been advised to hoist danger signal number 8 and Payra and Mongla seaports to hoist local cautionary signal number 4.