3.2m to flee path of cyclone
Tropical Cyclone Sidr swept in from the Bay of Bengal, buffeting the southwestern coastal areas within a 250km radius of its eye with heavy rain and storm surges predicted to reach 6m high.
No casualties were immediately reported, but rescue teams were on standby.
Sidr’s eye crossed the Khulna-Barisal coast near the Sundarbans mangrove forests, the Bangladesh meteorological department said.
At least 650,000 people fled to evacuation centres and 3.2 million people were expected to be evacuated in all, said Ali Imam Majumder, a government official in Dhaka, the capital.
Authorities dispatched food, medicines, tents and blankets to the affected areas and suspended operations at the country’s two main seaports — Chittagong and Mongla — while ferry services and flights were halted across the coastal region. Ships were warned to return to shore.
In the coastal districts of Bagerhat, Barisal and Bhola, residents said the storm flattened thousands of flimsy straw and mud huts, flooded low-lying areas and uprooted trees and electric poles.
In the capital, incessant rain flooded some streets, stranding vehicles, while strong winds sent billboards flying.
