At least 17 villages have been inundated in Patuakhali after local embankments broke away in pre-Fani cyclonic tidal surge.

Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner Matiul Islam Chowdhury confirmed the information to our local correspondent this evening.

Local Water Development Board’s Executive Engineer Hasanuzzaman told The Daily Star 10 of the villages are in Kalapara, five in Mirzaganj and two in Rangabali.

Shawkat Hossain Tapan Biswas, chairman for Lalua union under Kalapara upazila, said at least eight villages were flooded after the embankment on Ramnabad river over flooded.

Tanvir Rahman, Kalapara Upazila Nirbahi Officer, said the newly built dyke at Nijampur village on Andharmanik river bank collapsed and flooded two villages.

Abdullah AL Zaki, Mirzagonj UNO said, at least five villages were flooded as tidal surges damaged dyke on Payra river today.

Also, they confirmed around 32,250 people were moved to different cyclone centres.

In Barguna, around 30,000 people of different places were moved to cyclone shelter till 4:00pm, said Md Kabir Mahmud, Barguna’s deputy commissioner.