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Bangladesh braces as cyclone hits Fierce cyclone batters Bangladesh
(about 5 hours later)
A powerful tropical storm which forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes has hit Bangladesh's coast. Thousands of coastal homes have been levelled and trees uprooted as a powerful cyclone batters Bangladesh.
The cyclone made landfall in the south-west, packing winds of up to 240kph (150mph), the director of the country's meteorological office said. Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated or sought safe shelter before the storm hit the coast, but there are fears for those left behind.
Coastal residents in low-lying Bangladesh have been warned of possible tidal surges at least 3m high. The cyclone, which roared in from the Bay of Bengal just before dusk on Thursday, is packing winds of up to 240kph (150mph) and driving rain.
It is travelling north, and expected to hit Dhaka by noon on Friday (0830GMT).
It is also expected to affect eastern India and the west coast of Burma.
More than 40,000 policemen, soldiers, coastguards and health workers have been deployed along the coast.More than 40,000 policemen, soldiers, coastguards and health workers have been deployed along the coast.
The cyclone may also affect eastern India and the west coast of Burma. Flimsy homes
'Schools blown away' The cyclone made landfall in an area of mangrove forests known as the Sundarbans - a world heritage site and home to rare royal Bengal tigers.
Tropical Cyclone Sidr came ashore in an area of mangrove forests known as the Sundarbans - a world heritage site and home to rare royal Bengal tigers.
The cyclone heads for landEnlarge MapThe cyclone heads for landEnlarge Map
It is now moving north. The hope was that the trees there would absorb most of the storm's strength but communities along the whole coast, including several large cities, are feeling its force, reports the BBC's Mark Dummett.
"Many trees have been uprooted and houses and schools blown away," Mostofa Kamal, a district relief and rehabilitation officer, told the news agency AFP by phone from Barisal, north of the Sundarbans. Most ordinary houses are made of thatch, wood and tin, and officials and local witnesses say many are being easily flattened by the wind.
"There are no reports of deaths so far. We can not get out to get much information because of the severe storm," he said. "Many trees have been uprooted and houses and schools blown away," Mostofa Kamal, a district relief and rehabilitation officer, told the news agency AFP late on Thursday by phone from Barisal, north of the Sundarbans.
"The cyclone has battered Bangladeshi coastal areas," Samarendra Karmakar - director of Bangladesh's meteorological department - told AFP news agency. Shelter network
The cyclone has battered Bangladeshi coastal areas Samarendra KarmakarDirector, Bangladesh meteorological department class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7096561.stm">Can Bangladesh cope? class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/4588149.stm">Animated guide: Hurricanes Later, Bishnu Prashad, a resident of the southern coastal district of Bagerhat, told the Associated Press news agency they were "sitting out the storm by candlelight".
"The velocity of the wind in that area is 220-240kph. [This] is a violent storm." The cyclone has battered Bangladeshi coastal areas Samarendra KarmakarDirector, Bangladesh meteorological department class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7096561.stm">Can Bangladesh cope? class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/4588149.stm">Animated guide: Cyclones
But Mr Karmakar added that most of the five million people living in the area should already have been evacuated or have taken cover in cyclone shelters or government buildings. Hundreds of thousands of coastal villagers have been evacuated, with thousands more moving into government-built cyclone shelters - raised concrete buildings - or "mud forts" - shelters inside mud walls built along the coast to resist tidal surges - AP reported.
Residents of the low-lying country had been warned of possible tidal surges at least 3m (10ft) high, and rivers flowing into the Bay of Bengal were said to be swollen and rising.
Authorities said they had sent food, medicine, tents and blankets to the affected areas.
"We have taken all precautions," Ali Imam Majumder, a senior government official, reportedly said.
In many places electricity and communication connections are down, and reports of casualties were confused.
Reuters new agency reported at least 28 fishermen - 16 Bangladeshi and 12 Burmese - were missing after their boats sank in the storm.
The news agency AFP said one elderly man had drowned when a river boat had capsized.
But there was no confirmation of the reports.
India preparesIndia prepares
Operations have been suspended at the main ports of Mongla and Chittagong, which have been put on alert with the coastal town of Cox's Bazar. Work was stopped at the main ports of Mongla and Chittagong, which have been put on alert, along with the coastal town of Cox's Bazar. Flights have been cancelled, boats and planes removed from the storm's path, and schools and colleges closed.
Click here for a detailed map of the affected regionEnlarge MapClick here for a detailed map of the affected regionEnlarge Map
In the Indian state of West Bengal, which borders Bangladesh, the minister for disaster management Mortaza Hossain told the BBC measures had been taken including putting the military on alert, stockpiling food, and using loudspeaker announcements to tell residents to seek shelter. In the Indian state of West Bengal, which borders Bangladesh, the minister for disaster management Mortaza Hossain told the BBC precautionary measures had been taken.
They included putting the military on alert, stockpiling food, and using loudspeaker announcements to tell residents to seek shelter.
Southern Bangladesh is often hit by cyclones, but experts say the latest one is a category four storm, the most powerful so far in the season.Southern Bangladesh is often hit by cyclones, but experts say the latest one is a category four storm, the most powerful so far in the season.
Bangladesh developed a network of cyclone shelters and a storm early warning system, after a cyclone killed more than 500,000 people in 1970. Bangladesh developed a network of cyclone shelters and a storm early-warning system, after a cyclone killed more than 500,000 people in 1970.
Casualties from cyclones has been significantly reduced as a result, officials say. Casualties from cyclones have been significantly reduced as a result, officials say.
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