Cyclone Mocha getting closer to Myanmar’s Sittwe

Super cyclonic storm Mocha was approaching the Myanmar coast of Sittwe with great speed on Sunday morning.

The centre of the cyclone was 95km from Sittwe and 125km from the St Martin's Island of Cox's Bazar at 10:30am when the wind speed was 260kmph, according to cyclone observer satellites. 

On Sunday morning, Cyclone Mocha's outer band reached the coast of Rakhine State, Myanmar. By Sunday afternoon, the storm's centre is forecast to make landfall close to Sittwe township, which is on the highest weather alert, according to Myanmar's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

Latest visuals from #Sittwe in #Myanmar as Cyclonic Storm #Mocha nears the coast. #Mocha_cyclone pic.twitter.com/QAgUTToxQ3

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Tin Nyein Oo, who is assisting people in shelters in Sittwe, said more than 4,000 of the 300,000 citizens of the town had been evacuated to neighbouring towns since Friday, and more than 20,000 people were taking refuge in strong structures like monasteries, pagodas and schools located on the city's highlands. 

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Many of the locals lived in areas over three meters above sea level, places where they believed the storm surge could reach, he added.

Island residents brace for impact

On St Martin's Island, it has been drizzling in the coastal regions since Saturday, locals said. A strong storm and high tidal waves may hit the area when the cyclone gets nearer and makes landfall in Myanmar.

The government has evacuated hundreds of thousands of people in the coastal areas, including the southernmost island, as part of its all-out preparations.

So far, 3,000 residents of St Martin's have come to Teknaf for safe shelter. In addition, more than 4,500 people have taken shelter in the island's 37 hotels and resorts, Cox's Bazar Additional Deputy Commissioner Bibhishan Kanti Das said. The island has a population of 10,000.

Aditto Akash, manager of Jalkabbo Resort on the island where some 40 locals took shelter on Saturday, said they were facing strong winds and rain after 11am.

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He told Dhaka Tribune that many people went to resorts and two shelters run by the government, but their cattle and street animals like dogs and cats might not survive due to the superstorm.

Around 3,000 locals and tourists had left the island till Friday but there were no ships or trawlers to ferry more people to Teknaf on Saturday. 

Currently, there are 4,000-5,000 people staying on the island. Most of them took shelter in the two- and three-storey resorts and hotels as the houses of the locals are made of bamboo, wood and tin. 

Several locals said the government could easily evacuate the remaining people from the island on navy or private ships.