Cyclone Amphan: Great danger signal 10 for Mongla, Payra; 9 for Ctg, Cox's Bazar

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has elevated the storm alert to great danger signal 9 for Chattogram and Cox's Bazar ports as the very severe cyclonic storm reached within 345 km of the country’s coastline, bdnews24.com reports.

Mongla and Payra ports have been asked to keep hoisted great danger signal No. 10.

The storm is expected to cut its path through the Bangladesh and West Bengal coast near the Sundarbans on Wednesday evening, according to the Met Office.

The great danger signal is used when the wind speed crosses 89 kmph, which means the cyclonic storm will affect the ports as it passes through. Cyclone Amphan is moving north-westwards over the bay.

At 9;00 am Wednesday, the very severe cyclonic storm was situated about 525 km southwest of Chattogram port, 515 km southwest of Cox’s Bazar, 345 km southwest of Mongla and 370 km south-southwest of Payra.

Under the influence of the cyclone, low-lying areas in the coastal districts and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surges climbing 10-15 feet above the normal astronomical tide, said meteorologist Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallik.

According to the India Meteorological Department, Amphan weakened from a super cyclone to an "extremely severe cyclonic storm" on Tuesday, with parts of Odisha and West Bengal experiencing strong winds and heavy rain as it hurtled towards the coastline.

Amphan is only the second "super cyclone" to form in the northeastern Indian Ocean since records began. Meteorologists expect the storm to pack winds gusting up to 185 when it sweeps over West Bengal's Digha and Bangladesh's Hatiya.

Amphan is only the second "super cyclone" to form in the northeastern Indian Ocean since records began. Indian Navy is on "high alert" on the east coast for relief efforts, an official statement said.

Seven districts of Bengal are vulnerable to the impact of the cyclone with Kolkata, which is close to the coast, also on alert.

The Indian Met Office has also warned of flying objects, uprooting of electricity poles and boats getting torn away as a result of the strong winds generated by the storm. Astorm surge of about four-six metres above the astronomical tide is also expected to inundate the low-lying coastal areas in Bengal.