Cyclone Mocha makes landfall along Naf River coastlines

The "eye," or centre point, of the most powerful cyclone Mocha in two decades made its landfall shortly after midday today in south-eastern coastlines ahead of the speculated timeline, making its way through the Naf River that divided Bangladesh and Myanmar.

"The "eye," or centre point, of the cyclone made its landfall shortly after midday today on the Teknaf shorelines, coming through the Naf River, ahead of the time we had speculated," Bangladesh Metereological Department's Spokesman AKM Nazmul Huda told BSS today (May 14).

But, he said, the tail or the rest of the severe storm, which was categorised as a very dangerous Cat 5 cyclone, might take more time to land or cross the coastlines.

Meanwhile, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Quamruzzaman of Teknaf, which visibly bears the brunt of the cyclone, said the wind was blowing at a speed of over 200 kilometres per hour in Teknaf and its southernmost part, Shahpori Dip, along the Bay of Bengal.

"The weather is frightening because of the very high velocity of the wind, but we are yet to see the much-feared massive tidal surges," he said.

Saint Martin's Island's Union Parishad Chairman Mujibur Rahman told BSS that the offshore coral island also witnessed heavy storms that appeared to have exceeded 200 kilometres per hour, while out of its 10,000 permanent residents, some 7,000 took shelter in hotels, motels alongside the regular cyclone shelters.

Both of them said they received no immediate report of any casualties, but the storm uprooted many trees and damaged houses and other structures in Teknaf and St. Martins.

The weather officials said the Naf River witnessed a high tide that began at 11 am and continued until 5 PM, contrary to the low tide in Cox's Bazar, which started at 9 am and continued till 3 pm.

The officials and residents in Cox's Bazar said cyclone Mocha has brought with it heavy rain and winds of up to 195 kph (120mph) and feared it could trigger dangerous flooding on land along the Bay of Bengal.

The storm surges of up to four metres swamped villages in low-lying areas, but tensions grew amid speculations that the storm could ravage the world's largest refugee camp in Teknaf, where over a million Rohingyas took refuge as makeshift refugees to evade persecution in their homeland in Myanmar.

"Many makeshift shanties in the Rohingya camp were levelled and trees uprooted by the severe storm," government-appointed relief and repatriation official Mizanur Rahman told BSS.

Bangladeshi authorities earlier moved some half a million people to safety, while many of the Rohingyas living in risky foothills were relocated amid fears of mudslides.

The Met Office issued its latest special cyclone bulletin at 3 pm, saying "the very severe cyclonic storm Mocha (pronunciation Mokha), after crossing the coast, moved north-northeastwards and weakened slightly".

"The centre of the system has crossed the Cox's Bazar-north Myanmar coast near Sittwe (Myanmar) at 3 pm today (May 14, 2023) and lies over the land area of Myanmar (lat. 20.5°n, lon 92.8°e)."

The bulletin said by the evening today, the whole cyclone would completely cross the coast and "weaken gradually".

Fresh Warning

But under the influence of the system, northeast bay and adjoining areas will experience maximum sustained wind speeds of 120 kph rising to 130 kph in gusts or squalls, while the maritime port in Cox's Bazar was asked to keep hoisted Great Danger Signal No. 10.

The Met Office directed the Cox's Bazar, Chattogram and Payra seaports to keep hoisting Great Danger Signal No. 10, adding the signals would cover adjoining areas and offshore islands or chars.

Mongla port is to keep hoisting local warning signal number 4.

The coastal districts of Chattogram, Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalokathi, Pirojpur, Borguna and their offshore islands and chars will come under Great Danger Signal No. 8. 

River ports of Cox's Bazar, Chattogram, Feni, Noakhall, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalokathi, Pirojpur and Borguna were asked to keep hoisted Riverine Great Danger Signal No. 4 on a scale of four or highest for inland waters.
 
"Chattogram and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by the wind-driven surge height of 5 to 7 feet above normal astronomical tide under the peripheral effect of a very severe cyclone and steep pressure gradient," the bulletin said.
  
The low-lying areas of coastal Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Bhola and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by surges with heights ranging from 3 feet to 5 feet above normal astronomical tide.
  
According to the bulletin, the Mocha was likely to cause heavy rain falls in Chattogram, Sylhet and Barishal ranging from 44 millimetres to 289 millimetres (mm).
  
"Due to very heavy rainfall, landslides may occur at places over the hilly regions of Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Chattogram," the Met Office warned.
  
It also asked all fishing boats and trawlers in North Bay to remain in shelter until further notice.