Cyclone Mocha to completely cross Bangladesh by Sunday evening

The cyclonic storm Mocha will completely cross Bangladesh between afternoon and evening on Sunday, said Tariful Newaz Kabir, a meteorologist of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD),

Mocha has started crossing the coastal district of Cox’s Bazar and the neighbouring country Myanmar’s north coast with the speed of up to 215 km per hour (kmph), according to the latest bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), reports UNB.

The speed of wind may increase with time, the meteorologist added.

Around 6 am on Sunday, the cyclone was located 385 km south-southwest of Chattogram port, 305 km south-southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 450 km south of Mongla port and 370 km south of Payra port, said the BMD bulletin.

The coastal districts of Chattogram and Barishal divisions have already started experiencing the peripheral effects of the very severe cyclonic storm in the form of rain, the bulletin reads.

BMD said the maximum sustained wind speed near the storm's centre was about 190 kph, rising to 215 kph, in gusts or squalls.

Earlier in the morning, Afroza Sultana, an assistant meteorologist of the BMD, said that there is no possibility yet that Cyclone Mocha will turn into a super cyclonic storm.

BMD in its update said the coastal districts of Cox's Bazar and Chattogram and the nearby islands and low-lying Char areas may face tidal surges 8 to 12 feet above the normal tide.