6 killed as deadly Cyclone Mora hits Bangladesh; hundreds of thousands evacuated

At least six persons were killed as Cyclone Mora made landfall in Bangladesh today, packing winds of up to 150 kilometres per hour and damaging several houses, with authorities scrambling to evacuate over half a million people from the coastal areas.

In a special bulletin, Bangladesh Meteorological Department said the severe cyclonic storm 'Mora' moved northward over North Bay and started crossing Cox's Bazar- Chittagong coast at 6:00 AM (local time). It is likely to move in a northerly direction further, it said.

One of the six persons died of a heart attack during the storm while others were killed by falling trees and houses in Cox's Bazar and Rangamati, local media reported. 

Under the cyclone's influence, gusty or squally wind with rain or thunder showers were continuing over North Bay and the coastal districts and maritime ports of Bangladesh, the Daily Star reported.

"Wind speed is



estimated at 130 kmph in Saint Martins Island and 150 kmph Cox's Bazar port after it hit the area in between 6 AM and 7 AM," Cox's Bazar Met official A K M Nazmul Haque said.

All flights were suspended to and from Chittagong international airport and the Cox's Bazar airports.

As many as 300,000 people had been taken to shelters in more than ten districts most vulnerable to the cyclone, Additional Secretary Golam Mostafa, a spokesman for the disaster management ministry's control room, was quoted as saying by BD News.

"The people were moved out to at least 400 cyclone shelters or safer places like schools and government offices in the coastal areas," a disaster management ministry spokesman said.

There are also fears for the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees living in makeshift homes after fleeing violence or persecution in neighbouring Myanmar.