- Great Danger Signal No. 10 at Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar maritime ports

- Signal No. 8 at Mongla and Payera ports

- Mora to make landfall tomorrow

- Launch services suspended

- Coastal people asked to move to cyclone shelters

- Upazila control room number:  611545

- Doctors and nurses’ leave cancelled in Ctg

- Ctg civil surgeon’s control room number:  634843

- CCC control room numbers: 630739, 633649

The Met office has issued “Great Danger Signal” no. 10 at Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar maritime ports and 8 at Mongla and Payera ports as cyclonic storm ‘Mora’ is heading towards Bangladesh.

A severe cyclone is intensifying over North Bay and adjoining East-Central Bay and heading towards the country’s coastal areas, said Bangladesh Meteorological Department in a special weather bulletin this evening.

Coastal districts of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars will also come under the “Great Danger Signal” no. 10, said AKM Ruhul Kuddus, a meteorologist at the Met office.

Coastal districts of Bhola, Borguna, Patuakhali, Barisal, Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars will also come under the “Great Danger Signal” no. 8, he added.

Under the influence of the cyclonic storm ‘Mora’, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Borguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barisal, Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surge of four-five feet height above normal astronomical tide, Kuddus told The Daily Star.

All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to stay in shelters till further notice.

‘Mora’ may cross Ctg, Cox’s Bazar by tomorrow morning

The severe cyclonic storm (ecp 990 hpa) over north bay and adjoining east central bay moved slightly northwards and lies over the same area (near lat 19.0°n and long 91.3°e) and was centred at 9:00 pm today about 360 kms south of Chittagong port, 280 kms south of Cox’s Bazar port, 430 kms south-southeast of Mongla port and 350 kms south-southeast of Payra port. 

It is likely to intensify further, move in a northerly direction and may cross Chittagong - Cox’s Bazar coast by tomorrow morning.

Under the peripheral influence of severe cyclonic storm ‘Mora’ gusty or squally wind with rain or thunder showers is likely to continue over North Bay and the coastal districts and maritime ports of Bangladesh.

Maximum sustained wind speed within 64 Kms of the cyclone centre is about 89 Kph rising to 117 Kph in gusts or squalls. Sea will remain high near the system.

Coastal people asked to move to safety zones

Earlier in the day, Chittagong district administration asked the residents of its coastal area to move to nearby cyclone shelters or safe areas, reports our Chittagong correspondent.

There are 479 cyclone shelters in the district, which can hold up to 4.45 lakh people. Apart from this, there are government offices, schools which will be used as shelter if needed, said Chittagong Deputy Commissioner Zillur Rahman Chowdhury.

The district administration through loudspeakers has been asking people from the coastal upazilas in the district to evacuate and go to the cyclone shelters immediately, the correspondent said.

Control rooms have been opened in every upazila for monitoring and taking preparations regarding any issues centring the Cyclone Mora.

People were also asked to contact the number- 611545 for any help or necessary instruction.

The district administration has also arranged dry food in preparation, the DC said.

Magistrates have been sent to risky hilly areas to ensure people living there are moved away to safety, he added.

Physicians’ leaves cancelled, medical teams formed

Meanwhile, leave of all doctors and nurses has been cancelled in Chittagong district until further notice, said Chittagong Civil Surgeon Azizur Rahman Siddiqui.

Sixteen to twenty-five medical teams have been set up in each upazila and a control room has been opened on behalf of the civil surgeon.

Anyone injured or hurt in the cyclone have been asked to contact this number: 634843.

The Chittagong City Corporation also opened a separate control room as part of the disaster preparedness. Officers will be on duty in three separate shifts, according to a CCC press release.

The city corporation’s upazila level offices, school buildings will also remain open so that anyone in need can take shelter, the release read.

Ward councilors will supervise the activities in respective areas. The CCC’s control room numbers are: 630739, 633649.

Launch service suspended

Along with this, launch services all over the country remained suspended since 2:00pm today, Joynal Abedin, joint director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transportation Authority (BIWTA) told The Daily Star.