Tidal surge batters Saint Martin's Island

A tidal surge, triggered by a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal, has significantly impacted St. Martin's Island in Bangladesh, causing widespread damage to coastal areas and infrastructure.

The surge, intensified by the new moon, led to inundation of a large number of houses and scores of hotels and resorts, and under its influence significant erosion occurred along the coastline, and many trees were uprooted due to the powerful waves.

More than a hundred houses have reportedly been flooded and the hostile weather is hampering movement of passengers and freight trawlers, sources said.

As a result, local residents are suffering immensely. At least 11 hotels and resorts along the seashore have been severely damaged by the tide surge, the sources added.

Local resident Abul Kashem said that due to the hostile weather for four consecutive days rough waves of the sea have started hitting the protective embankment of the island.

Many houses have been submerged in the sea water. A three-storey building of a resort named Paradise has gone under floodwater. Trees have been broken. Various structures have been damaged by the onrush of water.

Local Union Parishad member Syed Alam said that tidal waves have caused erosion around the embankment. Salty sea water has entered the locality through different parts. There is a danger that Saint Martin's Island will disappear if urgent action is not taken.

Meanwhile, from July 24 to July 27, movement of passengers and cargo trawlers has been kept completely suspended for the last four consecutive days due to adverse weather conditions.

On Monday, July 28, keeping necessities of the locals in mind, a trawler was launched taking 70 passengers and some goods. But due to the rough sea, it was quite difficult for the trawler to move. The trawler reached St. Martin from Teknaf with great risk.

St. Martin Bazar Committee General Secretary and former UP member Habibur Rahman said that every year during the monsoon, the residents of the island suffer from scarcity of food and daily necessities. Now that the boat traffic is closed, the daily necessities in the market have started to gradually decrease.

If the adverse weather condition continues like this, 12,000 people of the island will face extreme hardship and sufferings.

St. Martin Union Parishad Chairman (Acting) Faizul Islam said more than a hundred houses have been flooded by the tidal waves. Around 11 hotel resorts have been damaged. Sufferings of the islanders have become extreme.

On the other hand, due to the restriction of boat traffic, there has been a shortage of daily essential food items supplied to the St. Martin market.

If the hostile weather continues like this, the islanders will suffer an extreme food shortage.

Local residents said that the surroundings of St. Martin have been devastated by the tidal surge in the last two days. There is no alternative to a sustainable embankment to save St. Martin.

Environmentalists say that the hotels that were damaged by the tide were mainly built without government approval. In addition, there are allegations of sandbank encroachment against a few hotels.

Teknaf Upazila Executive Officer Sheikh Ehsan Uddin said, "I have heard that several hotels and houses have been damaged by the tidal water in St Martin. We are looking into the matter and will take action after investigating the matter."

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