The disaster management and relief ministry has taken an all-out initiative to face the severe cyclonic storm Hamoon with the government making preparations to evacuate some 1.5 million people from 10 coastal districts.
Necessary relief has also been allocated for these 10 vulnerable districts, said Disaster Management and Relief Secretary M Kamrul Hasan after a meeting at the ministry conference room on Tuesday, reports BSS.
The 10 vulnerable districts are Patuakhali, Barisal, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Barguna, Chittagong, Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur and Chandpur.
Local authorities have been asked to distribute relief including rice, dry food, baby food, cattle feed and cash in the vulnerable districts, he said, adding that the meeting was headed by the state minister of the ministry.
The deputy commissioners of the districts have been asked to evacuate the 1.5 million people to safer places before midnight, the secretary mentioned.
"Earlier, at least 2.4 million vulnerable people were evacuated from the coastal region during Cyclone Mocha. Volunteers of the Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP) are working at the field level," said the official, specifying that 74,020 volunteers of the CPP are currently working in 3,701 units of 355 unions under 41 upazilas of 13 coastal districts.
To face the catastrophe, the deputy commissioners of the 10 vulnerable districts have already organized a meeting with all the upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) concerned in line with the standing order on disaster aiming at ensuring every possible preparedness measure and reducing disaster risks.
According to the latest bulletin of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the severe cyclonic storm is about 445km west-southwest of Chittagong port, 410km west-southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 325km Southwest of Mongla port and 310km southwest of Payra port.
The maritime ports of Chittagong and Payra have been advised to hoist Danger Signal Non 7, while Cox's Bazar and Mongla ports have been asked to hoist Danger Signal No 6 and 5, respectively, as Hamoon has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the northwest Bay.
It is likely to move north-northeastwards and may cross the Barishal-Chittagong coast near Bhola by Wednesday morning as a cyclonic storm, the BMD said.
The bulletin said the maximum sustained wind speed within 64km of the storm centre is about 90kmph rising to 110kmph in gusts/squalls.
The sea will remain high near the severe cyclone centre, it added.
Meanwhile, State Minister Md Enamur Rahman said medical teams have been formed and a huge quantity of emergency medicines and medical accessories are ready.
Enamur added the cyclone may make landfall in the coastal districts of Chittagong, Feni, Lakshmipur, Barguna and Barisal between 10pm Tuesday and 10am on Wednesday.
