Cyclone Yaas: High tide floods low-lying districts

Severe cyclonic storm "Yaas" has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm and was in North-West Bay and adjoining area, about 390kms south-southwest off Mongla and Payra maritime ports, at 6 pm. 

It is expected to move north-westwards further and make landfall on North-Odisha-West Bengal Coasts by Wednesday afternoon.

Under the influence of the very severe cyclonic storm, the districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Jhalakhathi, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Bhola, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, and Chattogram and other offshore islands and chars are likely to experience wind speed up to 80-100 km/h in gusts or squalls with heavy to very heavy falls during the passage of the storm. 

Bangladesh has taken extensive measures to deal with the very severe cyclone.

Wind speed 140 km/h at cyclone's centre

The maximum sustained wind speed within 74 km of the cyclone was about 120 km/h in the evening. The speed was rising up to 140 km/h in gusts and squalls. Sea was predicted to remain very high near the centre of the cyclone. 

Parts of 14 coastal districts to be inundated

Meteorologists forecast that the low-lying areas of 14 coastal districts may be inundated by 3-6 feet height above the normal astronomical tide under the influence of the storm and the full moon phase.

River ports asked to hoist riverine warning signal-2

Bangladesh Meteorological Departments has asked the river ports of Khulna, Barishal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Cumilla, Chattogram, Chandpur, Cox's Bazar, Dhaka, Faridpur, Madaripur, Kushtia and Jashore areas to hoist riverine warning signal-2 as temporary squalls along with shower/thundershower may sweep over the areas with a wind speed of 60-80km/h within 1am. 

Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary south-south easterly squalls with a speed of 45-60 km/h may occur in the rest parts of the country, whereby the other river ports are asked to hoist cautionary signal-1.  

High tide floods low-lying districts

The lowlands and char areas several coastal districts have been flooded due to the combined effect of impending super cyclone Yaas and full moon tidal wave increasing water levels of rivers.  

Around 3 lakh people in Bhola are reportedly being evacuated by the coast guard as nearly 40 chars areas under seven upazilas have been marked as unsafe under the looming threat of cyclone Yaas. 

Bhola Deputy Commissioner Toufiq-E-Elahi Chowdhury confirmed the matter at the virtual preparatory meeting for cyclone Yaas on Tuesday. 

"We are removing people from the Char Nizam and Dhal Char with the help of coast guard as the tidal wave has inundated some areas in Char Fashion," the deputy commissioner said.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD) Ministry arranged the meeting led by LGRD Minister Tajul Islam this morning to discuss the cyclone impact and its preparedness with district deputy commissioners, mayors, and senior officials of local government bodies.

In Bhola, some 709 shelters, 76 medical teams, 13,000 CPP volunteers are ready to tackle the probable damages of the cyclonic storm in the area. Eight control rooms have been set up to cooperate with the disaster management bodies.

Meanwhile, some low-lying areas in Barguna have already been flooded.

Barguna Deputy Commissioner Habibur Rahman said, "Some parts of the 805-kilometre embankment along the coast are at risk, however, the water development board has been informed ahead of time to be prepared so they can start repairing the damage immediately."

Around 642 cyclone shelters are ready to harbour the residents of the damaged areas in Barguna.

The coastal dwellers adjacent to the Sundarbans in Khulna have started taking preparation to go in shelters as the wounds of Cyclone Amphan from 2020 is still fresh. 

Khulna District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Azizul Haque Joarddar said, "The district administration has set up 1,048 shelters where five lakh people can be accommodated. Moreover, 116 medical teams,  5,320 people from the Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP) and 50 workers from the Red Crescent are ready to co-operate in disaster response."

In Satkhira, water has entered parts of Gabura union of Shamnagar upazila and 43 points of the Kopotakkho River embankment are at risk.

Meanwhile, at least 11 villages of Hatiya Upazila in Noakhali has been inundated with abnormal tidal waters caused by Cyclone Yaas.

The villages were flooded between 11:30 am and 12 noon on Tuesday. The water level in the Meghna river has risen by 4-5 feet more than normal. 

Hatiya Upazila CPP Officer Badiuzzaman said the tidal water has increased more than normal due to the combination of the effects of cyclone Yaas and the effects of the full moon while the water is likely to rise further in the night tide. 

According to upazila administration sources, 177 CPP units and 182 government shelters have been set up in Hatiya to keep people safe.

The lowlands of Bagerhat have been inundated with rising river water due to cyclone Yaas.

As the water level of the Bhairab, Bhola, Baleshwar and Panguchi river increased by 2-2.5 feet, thousands of families living outside the embankment were flooded.

The water rose by 1-1.5 feet in Morelganj Upazila Health Complex and Upazila Food Warehouse premises for rising water level of Panguchi river. 

According to the Bagerhat Water Development Board, the water level of Daratana river at full tide was 2.60 meters while the normal limit of this river is 2.44 meters. 

At least 800 families have been stranded in Bargi, Chargram, Panirghat and Sonatala areas. 

Bagerhat Additional Deputy Commissioner Khandaker Rizaul Karim said, "We have made all preparations to deal with cyclone Yaas as per the instructions of the Ministry of Disaster Management."

Meanwhile, the forest department has ordered the evacuation of more than 50 of its personnel, working in eight highly risky patrol outposts in Bagerhat in the Sundarbans East Forest Division and moved to safer outposts as Cyclone Yaas approaches towards the coast.

Forest officers and rangers of these outposts are taking preparation to move to safer outposts to escape the danger of the cyclone.

The highly risky outposts are Dubla, Kokilmuni, Shala, Kachikhali and Charkhali patrol outposts of Sharankhola range and Tambulbunia, Jongra and Jhapsi patrol outposts in Chandpai range of the Sundarbans East Forest Division.