The government has evacuated about 18.61 lakh people and 3.61 livestock to 14,636 shelter centres in coastal districts until Wednesday noon as super cyclone ‘Amphan’ is likely to make landfall this (Wednesday) evening.
“Until Wednesday noon, 18,61,060 people and 3,61,505 livestock have been taken to shelter centres,” said Ali Reza Majid, additional secretary to Disaster Management and Relief Ministry.
Considering the intensity of Amphan, the shelter centres have been increased to 14,636, he added.According to UNB Khulna correspondent, the local administration has evacuated 4 lakh people against the target of 17 lakh in Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira districts until Wednesday noon.
“We’ve evacuated 4 lakh people to 3,007 shelters centres in Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira districts until Wednesday noon,” said Hossain Ali Khandaker, additional divisional commissioner, Khulna Divisional control room.
In Bhola, about 3.16 lakh people and 1.36 livestock were taken to shelter centres of Charfashion, Monpura and other remote islands, said Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Masud Alam.Meanwhile, thousands of people have been brought to the main land from remote islands, the DC added.
Amphan set to hit
Amphan is set to make the landfall on Bangladesh coast this afternoon or evening, with 200 kph to 220 kph wind speed at its centre.
At 12 pm on Wednesday, ‘Amphan’ was centred at about 480 km southwest off Chattogram port, 470 km southwest off Cox’s Bazar port, 290 km southwest off Mongla port and 3320 km southwest of Payra port.
The maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist great danger signal number 10 while Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar have been advised to hoist great danger signal number 9.
It is likely to move in a northnortheasterly direction and may cross West Bengal-Bangladesh coast near Sundarbans in the afternoon or evening.
The maximum sustained wind speed within 85 kms of the cyclone centre is about 200 kph rising to 220 kph in gusts/ squalls. The sea will remain very high near the cyclone centre.
source: UNB
