Weather department issues warning at ports as Cyclone Mocha approaches Bangladesh

With the very severe cyclonic storm ‘Mocha’ approaching the coast of Bangladesh from the Bay of Bengal, concerns are mounting in the coastal regions of the country and in seaports.

The country’s Met Office has raised the storm warning steeply by four notches to great danger signal No.8 for three seaports and 12 districts.

The three ports are Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar and Payra. Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur and Barguna districts will also come under the great danger signal No.8. The Mongla sea port was also asked to display local warning signal No.4 from Friday noon.

Maximum sustained wind speed within 74 kilometres of the storm centre is about 140 kilometres per hour, rising to 160 kph, Bangladesh Meteorological Department said in a special bulletin on Friday night.

In charge of Cox’s Bazar Meteorological Office Dr Tanzir Saif Ahmed confirmed this information and said that the cyclone is located 965 km from Mongla Port, 1,005 km from Chittagong, 935 km from Cox’s Bazar and 930 km from Payra Sea Port. It is likely to intensify further and make landfall on Sunday.

The Met Office said Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar may face wind-driven storm surge of 8-12 feet above the normal level under the peripheral effect of the storm. The storm surge in the other districts with the great danger signal is likely to be 5-7 feet above the normal level.

“Shelter till further notice,” the Met Office said.

All fishing boats and trawlers in the Bay of Bengal have been asked to board safely, authorities claimed.

Meanwhile, after issuing warning signal number 4, the Mongla port authorities issued ‘Cautionary signal alert number 2.’

Sources report that the operation of moving goods in commercial ships at the port has not been stopped as of now. However, if the warning signal is further escalated, the operation will be suspended.

Karamjal Wildlife and Breeding Center Officer-in-charge Azad Kabir said, “Due to the impact of Cyclone Mocha, the water level in the Sundarbans has increased by one and a half feet above the normal tide.”

He further added that the work of safe evacuation of wild animals in Karamjal ecological park is going to take place very soon.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Cox’s Bazar Abu Sufian said that awareness campaigns are underway in coastal areas to educate residents about the potential risks.

He also said that the precautionary measures include, relocating people from vulnerable coastal and adjacent areas to cyclone shelters and Coast Guard Stations.

Disaster response and rescue teams are fully prepared to handle any emergency situation, he further added.

In preparation for potential disasters, a total of 576 shelters have been set up, which are capable of accommodating 505,990 individuals.

“Adequate supplies of cash, dry food, wheat, and rice have been stocked. Volunteer and medical teams are on standby, and a dedicated control room has been established,” said Abu Sufian.

To address potential disasters in the Rohingya camps situated in Cox’s Bazar, as many as 3,400 volunteers have been trained.

Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Mizanur Rahman said that refugees have also been informed to gear up with necessary preparations.

A directive has been issued for all the fishing boats and trawlers in the North Bay of Bengal to seek safe harbor without delay.

Meteorologists predict that the cyclone is currently moving in a north-northwest direction. If this continues, the cyclone might soon hit Bangladesh by Sunday noon.

The weather official also predicted that the cyclone could cross the coast through the area between Cox’s Bazar and Kyaukpyu in Myanmar. However, the Typhoon Warning Center said that the strength of the Mocha cyclone may exceed 200 km at that time.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Office, as of 12 noon on Friday, the cyclone was located 1005 km south-southwest of Chittagong sea port and 935 km from Cox’s Bazar sea port, while Mongla was positioned 965 km south-southwest and Payra 930 km south-southwest. The sustained wind speed near the cyclone’s center was recorded at 130 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 150 km/h.

Over the next six hours starting from 6 am on Friday, the cyclone continued to move at a speed of 11 km/h in a north-northeast direction. As the cyclone approached the coast, heavy rainfall was expected along with tidal inundation of coastal low-lying areas, with tides predicted to be 2 to 2.7 meters higher than normal.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Cox’s Bazar, Abu Sufian, said that the impact of Cyclone Mocha, which is moving towards the coast from the deep sea, is now visible in Cox’s Bazar.

He added that there had been moderate rain for half an hour since 2.40 pm on Friday, and then it was drizzling.

The sky remained covered with dark clouds, and intermittent rainfall is anticipated, according to Assistant Meteorologist Abdur Rahman from the Cox’s Bazar regional office of the Meteorological Department.

A senior officer from the Sea Safe Life Guard, responsible for beach security, said that the sea conditions were rougher than usual due to the cyclone.

Mohammad Shukkur, a lifeguard worker, stated that red flags were raised to alert tourists, who were prohibited from going knee-deep into the water.

If a signal number 4 is issued, beach access will be completely restricted based on administration instructions, confirmed the Additional District Executive Magistrate of Cox’s Bazar.

Amid concerns, residents have begun evacuating from St. Martin, the country’s southernmost coral island, and relocating to the mainland. More than two hundred families, primarily from Konarpara, Galachipa, Dailpara, and Uttar Para of the island, have arrived in Teknaf on Thursday and Friday.

On Friday afternoon, many families and their belongings were transported to Shahpari in the Sabrang Union of Teknaf Upazila.