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| Bangladesh cyclone kills hundreds | Bangladesh cyclone kills hundreds |
| (8 minutes later) | |
| At least 600 people are reported to have died after a powerful cyclone smashed into Bangladesh's coast, 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. |
| 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 from the Bay of Bengal, but some were left behind. |
| The true extent of the devastation remains unclear as the storm has blocked access to the affected areas. | The true extent of the devastation remains unclear as the storm has blocked access to the affected areas. |
| The storm weakened on Friday as it passed through the capital, Dhaka. | The storm weakened on Friday as it passed through the capital, Dhaka. |
| As it was downgraded to a tropical storm, attention turned to assessing the devastation and distributing aid. | As it was downgraded to a tropical storm, attention turned to assessing the devastation and distributing aid. |
| Crops destroyed | 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 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. |
| More than 40,000 policemen, soldiers, coastguards and health workers have been deployed. | More than 40,000 policemen, soldiers, coastguards and health workers have been deployed. |
| But amid a virtual national blackout, the authorities have been struggling to get food, medicine, tents and blankets to the affected areas. | But amid a virtual national blackout, the authorities have been struggling to get food, medicine, tents and blankets to the affected areas. |
| River ferries are not running, roads are blocked by uprooted trees and Dhaka's main airport was forced to suspend operations. | River ferries are not running, roads are blocked by uprooted trees and Dhaka's main airport was forced to suspend operations. |
| Flattened | 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. |
| 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/hurricanes | 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/hurricanes |
| Many people are thought to have been killed as falling trees levelled fragile houses made of thatch, wood and tin. | Many people are thought to have been killed as falling trees levelled fragile houses made of thatch, wood and tin. |
| At least 150 fishing boats in the Bay of Bengal have failed to return to shore. | 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, reported Reuters new agency. | |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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 for survivors | Search for survivors |
| "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. |
| 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 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. |
| It later blew past India's eastern coast without causing much damage, police and weather officials said. | It later blew past India's eastern coast without causing much damage, police and weather officials said. |
| Many people are taking cover in state-provided cyclone shelters | Many people are taking cover in state-provided cyclone shelters |
| The storm triggered 5m (16ft) tidal surges in many of the affected districts. Rivers flowing into the Bay of Bengal were said to be swollen and rising. | |
| 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 |