The maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, and Payra were asked to hoist great danger signal 8 on Friday night as Cyclone Mocha was approaching the southeastern coast of Bangladesh.
All fishing boats and trawlers over the North Bay of Bengal and adjoining rivers were advised to take shelter immediately, according to a Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) bulletin posted last night.
The coastal district administrations have taken extensive preparations, including the transfer of vulnerable people to shelters, to tackle the possible impacts of the cyclone, which can turn devastating like Sidr, the Met Office said. The Navy, Coast Guard and volunteers have been kept on alert.
St Martin's Island, Cox's Bazar, Maheshkhali, Chandpur, Noakhali, Lakhshmipur and Hatia are among the areas at risk.
The temperature started decreasing across Bangladesh on Friday. Along with this, rainfall will increase across the country on Saturday.
Cyclone Mocha is expected to make landfall Sunday with wind speeds of up to 160kph and gusts up to 175kph (110mph) between Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh and Kyaukpyu in Myanmar, India's Meteorological Department said.
The coastal districts of Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Barisal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Barguna, and their offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal no 8.
Under the peripheral effect of the cyclone and steep pressure gradient, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox's Bazar and Chittagong and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by the wind-driven surge height of 8-12 feet above normal astronomical tide.
Under the peripheral effect of the cyclone and steep pressure gradient, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Barisal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalokathi, Pirojpur, Barguna, and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by the wind-driven surge height of 5-7 feet above normal astronomical tide.
Rain, strong winds likely
Cyclone Mocha will bring rain and stormy winds to the coastal areas of Bangladesh from this evening.
The possible wind speed will likely be 150kph to 175kph when it hits the coast on Sunday, Mohammad Azizur Rahman, director of the BMD, said at a press conference on Friday. He said that the speed of the cyclone has decreased.
He also said that if this speed continues, super Cyclone Mocha may pass through the southeastern coast of Bangladesh and the northern coast of Myanmar by Sunday afternoon.
“We fear that this storm will pass over the entire Cox's Bazar district in particular,” said the official.
He said that Mocha is moving towards making an eye formation like Sidr. Wind speeds can reach 150km to 175km per hour when it hits the coast.