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Bangladesh braces as cyclone hits Bangladesh braces as cyclone hits
(about 1 hour later)
A powerful tropical storm which has forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes has hit Bangladesh's coast. A powerful tropical storm which forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes has hit Bangladesh's coast.
The cyclone made landfall in the south-west, packing winds of up to 240kph (150mph), the country's chief meteorologist said. The cyclone made landfall in the south-west, packing winds of up to 240kph (150mph), the director of the country's meteorological office said.
Coastal residents in low-lying Bangladesh have been warned of possible tidal surges at least 3m high.Coastal residents in low-lying Bangladesh have been warned of possible tidal surges at least 3m high.
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.The cyclone may also affect eastern India and the west coast of Burma.
'Branches flying' 'Schools blown away'
Tropical Cyclone Sidr came ashore in an area of mangrove forests known as the Sundarbans. 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.
We have been using loudspeaker announcements to people who live there and we've advised them to take shelter in tall buildings Mortaza Hossain Minister for disaster management Can Bangladesh cope? The cyclone has battered Bangladeshi coastal areas Samarendra KarmakarDirector, Bangladesh meteorological department Can Bangladesh cope? class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/4588149.stm">Animated guide: Hurricanes
"From my window, I can see tins ripped off the roofs and tree branches flying under the sky covered with thick clouds," Moulvi Feroze Ahmed, a local government official on St Martin's island in the Bay of Bengal, told Reuters news agency. It is now moving north.
"It looks like the sea is coming to grab us," 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 by phone from Barisal, north of the Sundarbans.
"There are no reports of deaths so far. We can not get out to get much information because of the severe storm," he said.
Click here for a detailed map of the affected regionEnlarge Map
"The cyclone has battered Bangladeshi coastal areas," Samarendra Karmakar - director of Bangladesh's meteorological department - told AFP news agency."The cyclone has battered Bangladeshi coastal areas," Samarendra Karmakar - director of Bangladesh's meteorological department - told AFP news agency.
The centre of the cyclone was near Khulna and Barisal not far from the border with India, he said.
"The velocity of the wind in that area is 220-240kph. [This] is a violent storm.""The velocity of the wind in that area is 220-240kph. [This] is a violent storm."
Casualties reduced
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.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.
Operations have been suspended at the main ports of Mongla and Chittagong. India prepares
class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/4588149.stm">Animated guide: Hurricanes 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.
The southern seaside resort town of Cox's Bazar appeared to be deserted after the cyclone warning was issued on Wednesday evening, reports said. 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.
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 has 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:
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