650,000 flee as cyclone smashes Bangladeshi coast

A cyclone that slammed into Bangladesh’s coast with 140mph winds killed at least 41 people, destroyed homes and forced 650,000 villagers to be evacuated, before heading inland and losing power today.

Tropical Cyclone Sidr roared across the country’s south-western coast yesterday with driving rain and high waves, killing about 41 villagers, local officials and the Meteorological Department said.