Cyclone Mocha weakens into deep depression in Myanmar
Cyclone Mocha has moved north-northeastwards and weakened into a land deep depression in Rakhine of Myanmar, said according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
The maritime ports including Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Payra and Mongla have been asked to lower danger signal and instead hoist local cautionary signal 3 as the severe cyclonic storm has completely crossed the coast at 6pm Sunday, said a BMD release.
The storm is likely to move inland further and weaken gradually by giving precipitation, the release added.
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Inland river ports asked to hoist danger signal 4
A stormy wind accompanied by rain or thundershowers with a speed of 60-80 kmph is likely to sweep over Khulna, Barishal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Cumilla, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar and Sylhet regions in the next seven hours.
Therefor the inland ports of these regions have been asked to hoist great danger signal 4, according to a Meteorological Department release issued today.
Moreover, gusty or stormy winds accompanied by rain or thundershowers with a speed 45-60 kmph are expected to sweep over other parts of the country.
The river ports in these areas have been asked to hoist warning signal number 2.
Wind starts to weaken in Saint Martin
The strength of wind has started to weaken in Saint Martin as the centre of Cyclone Mocha crossed the Cox's Bazar-North Myanmar coast at 3 pm today.
Woman gets injured in Saint Martin after tree falls over
A woman was injured at the Saint Martin Island around 3pm on Sunday after being crushed by a tree that was blown over by Cyclone Mocha.
The name of the injured could not be known.
Teknaf police station OC Md Abdul Halim said, “Many trees and houses have been damaged by strong winds. A tree fell over a woman. Police rescued her and took her to hospital for treatment.”
Meanwhile, reports of erosion are received from coastal areas of Cox's Bazar including Saint Martin Island, Shahparirdwip, Sabrang, Teknaf, Ukhiya. Many trees and houses have been destroyed in these areas.
Vibhishan Kanti Das, additional deputy commissioner (general) and head of Cyclone Control Centre of Cox's Bazar, said, “Strong wind and moderate rain started since 1pm on Sunday. Several trees and houses were damaged till 4pm.”
He said trees and several houses were reported to have been destroyed but the exact number cannot be said now.
Rain and stormy wind hit Cox's Bazar, 3 lakh people in shelters
Stormy winds and intermittent rains continued across Cox's Bazar sub-region under the influence of Cyclone Mocha. Very strong winds blow over the island of St Martin's as nearly 300,000 people of the district have safely stayed in shelters, said the officials.
"Moderate to light rain is falling intermittently. The intensity of the storm continues to increase. So far, there has been no major damage. More than 7,000 people have taken refuge on the island in the shelter," said St Martin's Union Chairman Mujibur Rahman on Sunday (14 May) noon.
150 flights cancelled at Ctg, Cox's Bazar airport due to Cyclone Mocha
At least 150 flights have been cancelled at Chattogram and Cox's Bazar airports in two days due to the impact of Cyclone Mocha.
Out of this 106 are local and the rest are international flights. However, three international flights bound for Chattogram have landed in Dhaka, said the respective airlines.
Earlier, due to the impact of Cyclone Mokha, the respective airports stopped flights at Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport and Cox's Bazar Airport from Saturday morning.
Chattogram Airport Director Group Commander Taslim Uddin said, "We had to cancel about 100 flights as we announced a 36-hour suspension of aircraft operations at the airport. 44 of them were international flights."
Risk to Bangladesh from Cyclone Mocha reduced: BMD
The risk posed by Cyclone Mocha has decreased for Bangladesh as the severe cyclonic storm is heading towards Myanmar, Bangladesh Meteorological Department Director (Current Charge) Azizur Rahman said during a press briefing on Sunday (14 May) afternoon.
"As Cyclone Mochas is heading towards Myanmar, the risk from the cyclone storm has decreased for Bangladesh. Areas in Myanmar and its southern region are expected to be at greater risk" he added.
Wind blowing at 100kmph in St Martin's, 80kmph in Teknaf: BMD
Winds are blowing at a speed of 100kmph in St Martin's. Meanwhile, the wind speed is 80kmph in Teknaf, Bangladesh Meteorological Department Director (Current Charge) Azizur Rahman said during a press briefing on Sunday (14 May) afternoon.
Bangladesh, Myanmar brace as Cyclone Mocha makes landfall
Bangladesh and Myanmar braced Sunday as an extremely severe cyclone started to hit coastal areas and authorities urged thousands of people in both countries to seek shelter.
Satkhira sees no effects of Cyclone Mocha
Though the coastal district of Cox’s Bazar is experiencing the effects of the cyclonic storm Mocha, no effects are seen in another coastal district Satkhira and the Sundarbans after the cyclone started crossing Bangladesh’s coast in the morning.
However, fear gripped the residents as most of the dykes in Shyamnagar upazila are in vulnerable condition.
Julfiqar Ali, an official of Satkhira meteorological office, said the cyclone may not impact the district as no effects of it have been seen since this morning.
Mocha to complete crossing Cox's Bazar-North Myanmar coast by this afternoon
The very severe cyclonic storm Mocha over the East Central Bay is likely to move north-northeasterly direction further and complete the crossing Cox's Bazar-North Myanmar coast near Sittwe (Myanmar) by today afternoon.
"It is now crossing Cox's Bazar-North Myanmar coast. It is likely to move north-northeasterly direction further and complete crossing Cox's Bazar-North Myanmar coast near Sittwe (Myanmar) by afternoon today," said the met office's 19th special bulletin.
It said the maximum sustained wind speed within 74 km of the very severe cyclone centre is about 195 kph rising to 215 kpii in gusts squalls. Sea will remain very high near the storm centre.
Mocha begins to cross Bangladesh coast; advancing at a speed of 15-20kmph
Very severe cyclonic storm Mocha has made landfall on the coasts of Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh and Myanmar's Rakhine state.
The Bangladesh Department of Meteorology (BMD) issued a report on Sunday morning confirming that the tip of the cyclone has started crossing the coast, bringing with it gusty winds and rain to the area.
The cyclone is advancing at a speed of 15-20kmph, with the main body expected to hit the coastal areas by noon to afternoon.
Confirming the matter, Sushmita Barua, a meteorologist at BMD’s Chattogram office, said, “The cyclone has begun to make landfall. We are experiencing adverse weather conditions.”
Echoing the same, Meteorologist Harunor Rashid of BMD’s Patenga office added that the peripheral effect of the very severe cyclonic storm has started in the coastal area.
No adverse weather in Khulna due to Cyclone Mocha
No adverse weather has been witnessed in the country's Khulna region due to the severe cyclonic storm Mocha as of 11pm on Saturday (13 May), according to the met office.
"The current wind speed in the region has been recorded at 8-10kmph," said Amirul Azad, a senior meteorologist at BMD's Khulna office.
"The area is also outside the purview of any cyclone-related cautionary signals," he added while speaking with The Business Standard.
He explained that there is no risk of flash floods as "The water levels in the local rivers are not to rise as they are safe from the cyclone."
Cyclone Mocha may cross Cox's Bazar by 3pm today, no possibility of turning into super cyclonic storm: BMD
The cyclonic storm Mocha is likely to cross Cox's Bazar and North Myanmar between 9am and 3pm today (14 May), according to the latest bulletin of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
Mocha, located over east central Bay and adjoining areas, kept moving north-northeastwards and kept intensifying, the BMD said.
The coastal districts under Chattogram and Barishal divisions have already started experiencing the peripheral effects of the very severe cyclonic storm in the form of rain, it reads.
Rain and stormy wind in St Martin's since morning as first blow of Cyclone Mocha hits
The first blow of Cyclone Mocha has begun to affect St Martin's island as stormy wind is blowing with rain since 7am today.
"People who took shelter in centres and hotels at night came out in the morning. We are telling them to return to safety," UP member of ward no 4 of St Martin's, Najir Hossain told The Business Standard (TBS) on Sunday (14 May) morning.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Kamruzzaman told TBS: "A total of 2 lakh 28 thousand 25 people have taken shelter in 636 centres in Cox's Bazar district. Among them, 6,000 people are staying in 37 shelters in St Martin."
Mocha shows no sign of weakening; 190-210 kph winds near centre: Met Office
Cyclone Mocha, located over east central Bay and adjoining areas, kept moving north-northeastwards and kept intensifying, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said in its latest update.
The cyclone was located at 490km south-southwest of Chattogram port, 410km south-southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 530km south of Mongla port and 460km south of Payra port, said the BMD.
It is likely to intensify further, keep moving in a north-northeasterly direction and likely cross the Cox's Bazar-north Myanmar coast anytime between 9am to 3pm on Sunday (May 14).
Rain likely in Dhaka by noon due to Cyclone Mocha
Dhaka is likely to see rain from noon today as an impact of Cyclone Mocha said Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
According to the BMD, light to moderate rain may start in different parts of the capital from Sunday (14 May) afternoon and will continue till night.
Wind can blow at a speed of 30-40 km per hour.
Floodgates closed to protect Bangabandhu Tunnel during Cyclone Mocha
The floodgates at both ends of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel have been closed as protective measures against Cyclone Mocha, Project Director Harunur Rashid Chowdhury has said.
The measures have been taken to prevent the flood water caused by the cyclone from entering the tunnel, he told The Business Standard.
"Authorities took this step on Saturday evening. This action was taken in view of the decision of the emergency meeting at the Ministry of Relief and Disaster on 10 May," he added.
