Sitrang causing concern in coastal areas

People of 19 coastal districts are concerned over the just formed cyclone "Sitrang" over the east-central Bay, which is expected to make landfall in Bangladesh within the next 48 hours.

Because of inadequate embankment protection, residents on the coastal belt and river islands have voiced concerns over widespread destruction caused by the cyclone.

Moni Shikder, of Patuakhali's Rangabali upazila, which is detached from the mainland, said everyone there was in a state of panic and feeling vulnerable since they heard about the cyclone.

"If the cyclone turns severe then it would cause large-scale damage to lives and properties here."

According to the Met's latest special weather bulletin, the weather turned inclement and the sea turbulent as the deep depression intensified into a cyclonic storm.

A ship was sent to St Martin's to evacuate nearly 400 stranded tourists on the island yesterday.

Travelling to and from the island will remain suspended from today for an indefinite period.

Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra were advised to hoist local cautionary signal-3.

The cyclone will hit 730 kilometre-long coastal areas in 19 districts of the country with three to five feet high tidal surges, said Enamur Rahman, state minister for disaster management and relief.

It may hit Bangladesh's coastal areas between midnight tonight and evening tomorrow at the speed of 90-100 kilometres per hour, he said while briefing the media at the secretariat yesterday.

"It will not be a "super cyclone". But we expect it to affect more areas than any storm in the last three years," he added.

"We have already instructed district administrators to prepare the cyclone shelters," he said.

Due to deep depression, new moon phase and steep pressure gradient, the low-lying areas of coastal Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar districts and their offshore islands and char areas are likely to be inundated by the wind-driven surge height of 3-5 feet above the astronomical tide the Met bulletin said.

Advancing at a speed of 20kmph last evening, the cyclone was located about 700km south-southwest of the Bangladesh coast.