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Scores dead in Bangladesh cyclone Bangladesh cyclone kills hundreds
(about 4 hours later)
At least 242 people have been reported dead after a powerful cyclone battered southern Bangladesh, levelling villages and uprooting trees. At least 600 people are reported to have died after a powerful cyclone smashed into Bangladesh's coast, levelling villages and uprooting trees.
Officials have warned that the death toll could rise and that the extent of the damage is still unclear. Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated or sought safe shelter before the storm hit the coast from the Bay of Bengal, but some were left behind.
Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated or sought safe shelter before the storm hit the coast, but some were left behind. The true extent of the devastation remains unclear as the storm has blocked access to the affected areas.
The storm was weakening early Friday as it passed through the capital, Dhaka. The storm weakened on Friday as it passed through the capital, Dhaka.
With the worst of the storm thought to be over, attention now turns to assessing the damage and distributing aid, the BBC's Mark Dummett reports from Dhaka. As it was downgraded to a tropical storm, attention turned to assessing the devastation and distributing aid.
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/africa_enl_1195215289/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/africa_enl_1195215289/html/1.stm', '1195215360', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=744,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Path of Cyclone Sidr across Bay of Bengal and Bangladesh href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/africa_enl_1195215289/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/africa_enl_1195215289/html/1.stm', '1195215360', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=744,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Image Crops destroyed
The damage from Cyclone Sidr, which has now moved well inland north-east of Dhaka, was worst on Bangladesh's southern coastal strip.
The government's disaster agency estimated the confirmed number of dead at 606 on Friday.
Tens of thousands of homes are thought to have been damaged and the recent crop harvest has also probably been destroyed.
Path of Cyclone Sidr across Bay of Bengal and BangladeshEnlarge Image
The World Food Programme is sending emergency food rations for 400,000 people. The government, the Red Crescent and other NGOs are also sending teams.The World Food Programme is sending emergency food rations for 400,000 people. The government, the Red Crescent and other NGOs are also sending teams.
However, our correspondent says that Dhaka's main airport has suspended operations, river ferries are not running, roads are blocked by uprooted trees and electricity supplies have been severely disrupted. More than 40,000 policemen, soldiers, coastguards and health workers have been deployed.
The damage from Cyclone Sidr was worst on Bangladesh's southern coastal strip. But amid a virtual national blackout, the authorities have been struggling to get food, medicine, tents and blankets to the affected areas.
Communications down River ferries are not running, roads are blocked by uprooted trees and Dhaka's main airport was forced to suspend operations.
Flattened
The Home Ministry in Dhaka said several districts could still not be contacted as telephones and communications were cut and reports of casualties were confused.The Home Ministry in Dhaka said several districts could still not be contacted as telephones and communications were cut and reports of casualties were confused.
Nahid Sultana, an official from the Ministry of Relief and Disaster Management, confirmed the death toll and said it was likely to rise.
All night the wind has been raging so hard that I thought my window will shatter K Ashequl HaqueDhaka resident Can Bangladesh cope? Guide: Cyclones/hurricanesAll night the wind has been raging so hard that I thought my window will shatter K Ashequl HaqueDhaka resident Can Bangladesh cope? Guide: Cyclones/hurricanes
Many people are thought to have been killed as falling trees flattened fragile houses. In one case, an elderly man drowned when a small boat capsized, the AFP news agency reported. Many people are thought to have been killed as falling trees levelled fragile houses made of thatch, wood and tin.
Bangladeshi television said more than 100 fishing boats in the Bay of Bengal had failed to return to shore despite storm warnings, Reuters reported. At least 150 fishing boats in the Bay of Bengal have failed to return to shore.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said 1,000 fishermen were missing.
Red Crescent officials have said at least three villages were flattened by the storm.Red Crescent officials have said at least three villages were flattened by the storm.
Residents of the capital, Dhaka, told the BBC news website that buildings and roofs were shaken by fierce winds during the night, and that by morning power and water supplies had been cut. Dhaka residents told the BBC news website that buildings and roofs were shaken by fierce winds during the night, and that by morning power and water supplies had been cut.
"All night the wind has been raging so hard that I thought my window will shatter," said K Ashequl Haque."All night the wind has been raging so hard that I thought my window will shatter," said K Ashequl Haque.
Search under way Search for survivors
Most ordinary houses in rural areas are made of thatch, wood and tin, and officials and local witnesses say many were easily flattened by the wind.
"We have mounted a search by civilians, army and police, and the casualty figures will rise," an official in Barisal, one of the worst hit districts, told Reuters."We have mounted a search by civilians, army and police, and the casualty figures will rise," an official in Barisal, one of the worst hit districts, told Reuters.
"We have been virtually blacked out all over the country," a disaster management official in southern Mongla, another badly affected area, told the agency."We have been virtually blacked out all over the country," a disaster management official in southern Mongla, another badly affected area, told the agency.
The cyclone had roared in from the Bay of Bengal just before dusk on Thursday, generating winds of up to 240kph (150mph) and driving rain. The cyclone had roared in from the Bay of Bengal just before dusk on Thursday, generating winds of up to 240km/h (150mph) and driving rain.
The storm swept through Dhaka overnight, where it pulled up trees and cut power. It later blew past India's eastern coast without causing much damage, police and weather officials said.
The capital's airport was closed, and river ferries stopped running.
The cyclone was 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.
Many people are taking cover in state-provided cyclone sheltersMany people are taking cover in state-provided cyclone shelters
Hundreds of thousands of coastal villagers have been evacuated, with thousands more moving into government-built cyclone shelters. The storm triggered 5m (16ft) tidal surges in many of the affected districts, Reuters reported. Rivers flowing into the Bay of Bengal were said to be swollen and rising.
The cyclone triggered 5m (16ft) tidal surges in many of the affected districts, Reuters reported. 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.
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.
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