Cyclone batters Bangladesh

A cyclone slammed into Bangladesh tonight, tearing down houses, toppling trees and power poles, and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee.

Tropical Cyclone Sidr swept in from the Bay of Bengal, buffeting south-western coastal areas within a 155-mile radius of its eye with 149 mph winds, heavy rain and storm surges predicted to reach 20 feet high.

In the coastal districts of Bagerhat, Barisal and Bhola, residents said the storm flattened thousands of flimsy straw and mud huts, and uprooted trees and electric poles.

“We are sitting out the storm by candlelight,” resident Bishnu Prashad said in Bagerhat.

At least 620,000 people had moved into official shelters and 3.2 million people were expected to be evacuated in all, the government said.

No casualties were immediately reported, but rescue teams were on standby.

Bangladesh, a low-lying delta nation, is prone to seasonal cyclones and floods that cause huge losses of life and property.

The coastal area bordering eastern India is famous for the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, a world heritage site that is home to rare Royal Bengal Tigers.

Weathermen had put the country’s three major maritime ports Chittagong, Mongla and Cox’s Bazar on the highest level of alert.

Ferry service and flights were halted across the coastal region.

Ships were warned to return to shore. Volunteers helped evacuate villagers to cyclone shelters, built of concrete on raised pilings. Some took refuge in “mud forts” built along the coast to resist tidal surges.

Schools, mosques and other public buildings were also turned into makeshift shelters.

Many of the fishing boats in the region’s coastal waters put down anchor at nearby shoals and islets that dot the South Asian country’s shoreline.

The sea resort of Cox’s Bazar was deserted after Wednesday’s warning. Dozens of tourists were stranded in the offshore coral atoll of St. Martins as rough seas forced cruise boats and ships to stay ashore.