Cyclone Hamoon: Govt to evacuate 1.5m people from vulnerable areas

The government has instructed residents in 10 coastal districts to evacuate to shelters by 8 pm to protect them from the danger posed by severe Cyclone Hamoon.

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief said 1.5 million people from the vulnerable districts of Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Borguna, Chattogram, Feni, Noakhali, and Lakshmipur would be evacuated to shelters.

“It was decided to move people in vulnerable areas to shelters when danger signal No. 7 is issued,” said Enamur after an emergency meeting of the Cyclone Preparedness Program implementation board at the Secretariat on Tuesday.

“Accordingly, from this moment on, our field administration and volunteers will start taking those people affected to shelters.

The state minister highlighted the speed, nature and location of the cyclone.

“After analysing the cyclone’s track, speed and character, we have surmised that it will cross the coastal area between 10 pm and 10 am on Tuesday. That is why instructions have been given to take vulnerable people to shelters by 8 pm on Tuesday.”

Cyclone Hamoon formed in the Bay of Bengal and has intensified into a severe cyclone. With wind speeds of 100 km per hour, this cyclone has reached within 310 km of the Bangladesh coast.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has raised cautionary signals as the strength of the cyclone increases. The BMD has asked Payra and Chattogram seaports to lower the local warning signal and raise danger signal No. 7, Cox’s Bazar seaport to raise danger signal No. 6, and Mongla seaport to raise danger signal No. 5.

The shelters have been prepared, Enamur said, and the field administration and volunteers are already at work. Money has already been allocated to provide cooked food and drinking water, baby food and cow fodder at those locations. Tk 2 million and 50 metric tonnes of rice have been allotted to each district.

The state minister said Tuesday’s official holiday for the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has been cancelled due to the storm. Ministries, directorates and field-level officers are working in the coastal region.

Hamoon’s track is similar to last year’s Cyclone Sitrang, albeit slightly to the northwest, Enamur said. The trajectory and speed are very similar, which is why extra caution is called for.