Cyclone Hamoon, which made landfall on Tuesday evening, has wreaked havoc in at least six upazilas, causing extensive damage and claiming lives.
According to the district administration, the cyclone's impact has resulted in the destruction of around 5,000 houses, the loss of two lives, and injuries to a minimum of 85 individuals.
Furthermore, the cyclone has uprooted electric poles and trees, severed connection lines, and disrupted the power supply system. Additionally, the road communication between Chittagong and Banshkhali has been severely affected due to fallen trees.
The cyclone initially made landfall on the evening of Tuesday, battering the coasts of Chittagong and Cox's Bazar with heavy rains. By 1am, it had weakened into a low-pressure.
Chittagong District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer, Md Saifullah Mazumder, said: "We have received initial reports of significant damage in six coastal upazilas in Chittagong, including Banshkhali, Anwara, Sandwip, Mirsharai, Sitakunda, and Karnafuli. Additionally, Satkania, Lohagara, Chandanaish, and Patiya have also been affected. We have information about two casualties, but due to the lack of electricity connections, mobile networks are down in some upazilas, making it difficult to gather comprehensive information."
According to the relief and rehabilitation wing of the district administration, Cyclone Hamoon has affected 111,000 people in 25 unions across various upazilas. A total of 4,784 houses have sustained partial damage, while 283 have been completely destroyed. Additionally, the forest has incurred losses of around Tk1 crore due to tree damage, and the power sector has suffered losses amounting to Tk1.5 crore.
Furthermore, the fisheries sector has been impacted with a loss of approximately Tk1.10 crore. The district administration has also received reports of the deaths of 11 cows and 70 sheep and goats among the cattle.
Saifullah Majumdar said: "A 70-year-old woman in Saral union, Banshkhali, lost her life due to a fallen tree. We have also received information about another victim in Satkania, but we lack details. In various unions, a total of 85 people have been injured because of house destruction and uprooted trees."
Satkania Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Miltan Biswas said: "A 65-year-old woman named Bakuma Khatun tragically lost her life when a tree fell on her in Khagaria union. Many trees were uprooted in various villages across the upazila, causing power lines to be severed. Initial reports suggest that 123 houses have sustained partial damage."
Banskhali Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Jesmin Akter said: “A fallen trees in different parts of the upazila have severed internal road communication. Vehicular movement has also come to a halt on the main road.”
Both Banskhali and Satkania upazilas are currently without electricity.
Chittagong Palli Bidyut Samity-1 Senior General Manager Engineer Dilip Chandra Chowdhury said: “The power supply system in all upazilas except Boalkhali in south Chittagong has been damaged. Preliminary reports indicate that at least 81 electric poles have been affected, with Banskhali facing also damage, where 31 electric poles have been impacted."
