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| Cyclone rescue effort under way | Cyclone rescue effort under way |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Aid workers are struggling to reach hundreds of thousands of survivors from a powerful cyclone that ripped through southern and central Bangladesh. | Aid workers are struggling to reach hundreds of thousands of survivors from a powerful cyclone that ripped through southern and central Bangladesh. |
| Almost 900 people are confirmed to have died during the storm, a toll that is expected to rise further. | Almost 900 people are confirmed to have died during the storm, a toll that is expected to rise further. |
| The cyclone has destroyed or damaged tens of thousands of homes. | The cyclone has destroyed or damaged tens of thousands of homes. |
| But access to some of the worst affected areas is difficult with roads blocked by debris and power and phone lines cut. | But access to some of the worst affected areas is difficult with roads blocked by debris and power and phone lines cut. |
| With a huge relief operation now under way, the true extent of the destruction is expected to become clearer on Saturday, the BBC's Mark Dummett in Dhaka reports. | With a huge relief operation now under way, the true extent of the destruction is expected to become clearer on Saturday, the BBC's Mark Dummett in Dhaka reports. |
| Military helicopters and ships joined the rescue efforts on Saturday, helping deliver supplies and medical assistance to some of the most remote areas. | Military helicopters and ships joined the rescue efforts on Saturday, helping deliver supplies and medical assistance to some of the most remote areas. |
| It was like doomsday, the most frightening five hours of my life Mollik Tariqur Rahman Can Bangladesh cope? Guide: Cyclones/hurricanes | It was like doomsday, the most frightening five hours of my life Mollik Tariqur Rahman Can Bangladesh cope? Guide: Cyclones/hurricanes |
| The official death toll has been put at 884, but helicopter crews have reported seeing many more bodies. | The official death toll has been put at 884, but helicopter crews have reported seeing many more bodies. |
| "We are expecting that thousands of dead bodies may be found within a few days," Shekhar Chandra Das, deputy head of the government's disaster management office, told AFP. | "We are expecting that thousands of dead bodies may be found within a few days," Shekhar Chandra Das, deputy head of the government's disaster management office, told AFP. |
| "We have not been able to collect information about casualties in many remote and impassable places due to the disruption to communications," he said. | "We have not been able to collect information about casualties in many remote and impassable places due to the disruption to communications," he said. |
| Crops destroyed | Crops destroyed |
| The severity of the storm not only smashed homes, but destroyed vital food sources too. Officials say that in many areas 95% of rice which was awaiting harvest has been destroyed, and shrimp farms and other crops simply washed away. | The severity of the storm not only smashed homes, but destroyed vital food sources too. Officials say that in many areas 95% of rice which was awaiting harvest has been destroyed, and shrimp farms and other crops simply washed away. |
| Elephants are being used to help clear roads | Elephants are being used to help clear roads |
| "Many people are homeless, crops and livelihoods have been destroyed and this is going to put great pressure on the government, the economy, and the people themselves, particularly as this comes only a few months after floods devastated the northern part of the country," Suman SMA Islam, humanitarian assistance co-ordinator for the aid agency Care, told Reuters. | "Many people are homeless, crops and livelihoods have been destroyed and this is going to put great pressure on the government, the economy, and the people themselves, particularly as this comes only a few months after floods devastated the northern part of the country," Suman SMA Islam, humanitarian assistance co-ordinator for the aid agency Care, told Reuters. |
| As well as helicopters being used to ferry supplies to hard hit areas, ships are also at work clearing channels blocked with sunken vessels. | As well as helicopters being used to ferry supplies to hard hit areas, ships are also at work clearing channels blocked with sunken vessels. |
| On land, elephants are being employed to clear some of the heavier debris from roads. | On land, elephants are being employed to clear some of the heavier debris from roads. |
| The storm hit Bangladesh late on Thursday, with winds rising to 240km/h (150mph). | The storm hit Bangladesh late on Thursday, with winds rising to 240km/h (150mph). |
| It passed through the capital Dhaka hours later, before dying down in the north-east of the country. | It passed through the capital Dhaka hours later, before dying down in the north-east of the country. |
| The biggest challenge for southern Bangladesh will now be reconstruction, the BBC's Mark Dummett says. | The biggest challenge for southern Bangladesh will now be reconstruction, the BBC's Mark Dummett says. |
| Trail of destruction | Trail of destruction |
| One witness in the south-western Bagerhat district told the news agency AFP that the storm had destroyed 80% of the homes in his village. | One witness in the south-western Bagerhat district told the news agency AFP that the storm had destroyed 80% of the homes in his village. |
| "I cannot describe how devastating it was. It was like doomsday, the most frightening five hours of my life. I thought I would never see my family again," said local businessman Mollik Tariqur Rahman. | "I cannot describe how devastating it was. It was like doomsday, the most frightening five hours of my life. I thought I would never see my family again," said local businessman Mollik Tariqur Rahman. |
| href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/south_asia_enl_1195299826/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/south_asia_enl_1195299826/html/1.stm', '1195300339', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=518,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/south_asia_enl_1195299826/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/south_asia_enl_1195299826/html/1.stm', '1195300339', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=518,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Image | |
| "There is a trail of destruction everywhere. We can't even detect exactly where our houses were built - only a few are left and they do not have roofs," he said. | "There is a trail of destruction everywhere. We can't even detect exactly where our houses were built - only a few are left and they do not have roofs," he said. |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| Hundreds of fishermen are feared missing. | Hundreds of fishermen are feared missing. |
| Amid a virtual national blackout, the authorities have been struggling to get food, medicine, tents and blankets to the affected areas. | Amid a virtual national blackout, the authorities have been struggling to get food, medicine, tents and blankets to the affected areas. |
| Food relief | Food relief |
| An official from the UN World Food Programme said the most urgent needs were food, water purification tablets, and medicines. | An official from the UN World Food Programme said the most urgent needs were food, water purification tablets, and medicines. |
| The WFP is sending energy biscuits for 400,000 people. The government, the Red Crescent and other NGOs are also sending teams. | The WFP is sending energy biscuits for 400,000 people. The government, the Red Crescent and other NGOs are also sending teams. |
| 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. |
| Southern Bangladesh is hit every year by cyclones and floods, but Cyclone Sidr is the most destructive storm to hit the country in more than a decade. | Southern Bangladesh is hit every year by cyclones and floods, but Cyclone Sidr is the most destructive storm to hit the country in more than a decade. |
| Another storm in 1991 left some 143,000 dead. | Another storm in 1991 left some 143,000 dead. |
| Have you been affected by the cyclone? Send us your experiences using the form below: | Have you been affected 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 |