Sea turbulent along Cox's Bazar coasts, over 50 locations flooded, St Martin's cut off from mainland
The coastal areas of Cox's Bazar have seen gusty wind, cloud overcast and turbulent seas due to the deep depression over the Bay that today (30 May) weakened into a land depression.
Due to the incessant rain the previous day under the influence of a low pressure in the Bay, and subsequent tidal surge, at least 50 villages in various upazilas of the beach district have gone under water. Also, the Saint Martin's Island in Teknaf upazila has been submerged, leaving its residents trapped in water amid a scarcity of daily necessities.
In the previous 24 hours till 12pm on Friday, Cox's Bazar has recorded 152 millimetres of rainfall, and there are chances of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the district, Assistant Meteorologist of Cox's Bazar Weather Observatory Office Abdul Hannan told The Business Standard today.
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"As a result of the land depression, clouds are forming over the Bay and strong winds are occurring in the coastal areas. As a result, local cautionary signal- 3 is in force in Cox's Bazar," he said.
Tourists streamed to see rough sea; structures damaged by waves
During a visit to the Suganta Beach Point around 11am today, it was observed that the sea was quite choppy, with the water levels rising significantly above the usual high tide.
With Friday being a weekend, a multitude of tourists were spotted converging on the beach, taking pleasure in the choppy sea, in disregard of warnings. However, lifeguards and tourists police team were making efforts to remove them from the beach.
Huge waves were crashing into the shore, causing damage to various establishments, and overflowing makeshift shops tourist police boxes on the beach.
Jhau trees have been uprooted by tidal waters in locations spanning from Madrasa Point to Shaibal Point. At Laboni Point, various government and private establishments, tourist police boxes and shops have been damaged by the water, said Mohammad Shukkur, in-charge of the lifeguard agency Sea Safe.
"At Sugandha Point, some shops have gone under water and the tourist police boxes has been damaged by water. The situation is similar at Kalatali Point," he told TBS, adding that as today was a weekend, a multitude of tourists converged on Sugandha Point.
"We are cautioning them, yet many are disregarding it. However, we are trying our best to keep tourists safe," added Shukkur.
50 locations, including villages, flooded
Because of heavy rainfall and high tide, at least 50 coastal areas in the district, including Kutubdia, Maheshkhali, Pekua and St. Martin's Island in Teknaf, have been flooded by today, reports our correspondent.
The island upazila of Kutubdia has exposed to severe vulnerability.
Water from the tide, reaching a height of approximately three feet, entered through a damaged embankment about 50 metres south of a wind power project facility in the upazila's Ali Akbar Dali union, submerging Purba Para, Sandwip Para, High School Para, and Shanti Bazar areas.
Shafiul Alam Kutubi, panel chairman of Kaiarbil union, told TBS that water has infiltrated at least 200 houses located next to the embankment in Maulvi Para and Mofzal Ahmed Para.
Uttar Dhurung Union Parishad Chairman Alauddin Al Azad said water has flowed into the union through the impaired embankment in Miarakata and Dakshin Dhurung areas.
Kutubdia UNO Kyathowai Prue Marma told TBS that tidal water has flowed through the broken parts of the embankment in the wind project area. "The embankment is in a very vulnerable condition at 7-8 points on the island
"The Water Development Board has been asked to quickly repair the broken parts," he said.
Jamal Morshed, sub-divisional engineer of Water Development Cox's Bazar office, told TBS that tidal water has entered into localities by breaching the protection embankments in various areas including Kutubdia, Maheshkhali and Pekua upazilas.
St. Martin's Islanders trapped, hit by essentials' shortage
"Movement of all water transports between St. Martin's and Teknaf has remained suspended for four days due to rough seas and adverse weather conditions. This has caused a shortage of daily necessities for the residents of the island," BWDB Engineer Jamal Morshed said.
Rashid Ahmed, president of Teknaf-Saint Martin's Island route trawler services association, told TBS that operation of all types of vessels, including cargo trawlers, has remained suspended for four days due to inclement weather.
St. Martin's Union Parishad acting chairman Faizul Islam said the scarcity essential supplies has intensified as a result of the suspension of shipping. "The vegetable market has run out of stocks. Other consumer goods are likely to be exhausted within a day. Besides, the prices of the goods that are still available in the market have escalated
"The island's residents find themselves in a state of helplessness. They are confined to their homes," added the chairman.
Acknowledging the rough sea conditions, Teknaf UNO Sheikh Ehsan Uddin told TBS that water transports will be able to move once the situation normalises.
The UNO also pointed out possible risks in the hilly areas because of the prevailing squally weather conditions.
He noted that in the hills of Teknaf and Ukhiya, there are 33 camps for Rohingya refugees, accommodating approximately 13 lakh Rohingyas. "One-third of them live in dangerously crowded conditions on and below the slopes of the mountains."
In addition, hundreds of families live precariously in the hills of Eidgaon, Ramu, Chakaria, Maheshkhali and Pekua upazilas. Every year, there are incidents of landslides in the upzilas during the monsoon season, resulting in loss of life.
