Three dead and 275,000 people flee to shelters in Bangladesh as Cyclone Hamoon makes landfall
Hamoon is most recent in series of major storms to pummel coastal regions of Bangladesh
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Three people were killed and over 275,000 people forced to find emergency shelters in Bangladesh as Cyclone Hamoon made landfall near the southeastern coast.
Walls and trees collapsed due to the impact of Hamoon on Tuesday night, leading to the deaths, the Dhaka Tribune reported.
Hamoon is the most recent in a series of major storms to pummel the coastal regions of Bangladesh. This low-lying South Asian nation is experiencing a growing frequency of severe weather events – a trend that is usually attributed by climate scientists to the climate crisis.
Senior official Kamrul Hasan, who is the secretary of the disaster management ministry, was quoted as saying by AFP: “We evacuated 273,352 people to cyclone shelters.”
“At least 10 people were injured and are being treated in hospitals,” he told the outlet. However, several other outlets said that nearly 20 sustained injuries.
Power lines were severed and coastal villages and islands endured heavy rainfall but local media said that there were no reports of extensive or significant damage.
Cyclone Hamoon made landfall in the Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar coastal districts in the early hours of Wednesday morning, with wind speeds of up to 104kph.
The cyclone is expected to further move inland and weaken gradually.
Local media reported that Hamoon has taken a heavy toll on Cox’s Bazar, catching residents off guard due to the cyclonic storm’s abrupt arrival.
Residents also alleged that there was a lack of timely warnings from the meteorological office which has drawn criticism from many.
A resident, Shahena Akhtar, told Dhaka Tribune that the local authorities failed to provide timely information resulting in residents being caught off guard and ill-prepared for the cyclone.
Cox’s Bazar deputy commissioner Muhammad Shaheen Imran, however, stressed that there was no negligence on their part. He stated that warning messages had been distributed well in advance before Cyclone Hamoon struck, and proactive measures were implemented to evacuate tourists from Saint Martin’s Island.
Cox’s Bazar district lost power late on Tuesday and district officials could not be contacted for updates on any damages caused, locals alleged.
Meanwhile, Samitipara, Fadnar Dale, and Nazirertek areas experienced extensive damage due to Hamoon.
In May, Cyclone Mocha emerged as the most potent storm to strike Bangladesh since the devastating Cyclone Sidr in November 2007. Sidr killed over 3,000 people and inflicted billions of dollars in damages.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments