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| Fierce cyclone batters Bangladesh | Fierce cyclone batters Bangladesh |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Thousands of coastal homes have been levelled and trees uprooted as a powerful cyclone batters Bangladesh. | Thousands of coastal homes have been levelled and trees uprooted as a powerful cyclone batters Bangladesh. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| Flimsy homes | Flimsy homes |
| 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. | 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. |
| The cyclone heads for landEnlarge Map | The cyclone heads for landEnlarge Map |
| 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. | 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. |
| Most ordinary houses are made of thatch, wood and tin, and officials and local witnesses say many are being easily flattened by the wind. | Most ordinary houses are made of thatch, wood and tin, and officials and local witnesses say many are being easily flattened by the wind. |
| "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. | "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. |
| Shelter network | Shelter network |
| 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". | 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 cyclone has battered Bangladeshi coastal areas Samarendra KarmakarDirector, Bangladesh meteorological department Can Bangladesh cope? href="/1/hi/sci/tech/4588149.stm">Guide: Cyclones/hurricanes | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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. | 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. | 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. | The news agency AFP said one elderly man had drowned when a river boat had capsized. |
| But there was no confirmation of the reports. | But there was no confirmation of the reports. |
| India prepares | India prepares |
| 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. | 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 Map | Click 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 precautionary measures had been taken. | 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. | 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 have been significantly reduced as a result, officials say. | Casualties from cyclones have been significantly reduced as a result, officials say. |
| Do you live in coastal areas expected to be hit by the cyclone? Send us your experiences using the form below: | Do you live in coastal areas expected to be hit by the cyclone? Send us your experiences using the form below: |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |