A powerful cyclone named ‘Mocha’ is currently heading towards the coastline. As of Saturday afternoon, the storm is approximately 630 km away from the coast.Within a radius of 74 km from its center, the maximum sustained wind speed of cyclone ‘Mocha’ is 170 km per hour. The storm is intensifying with gusts or squalls reaching up to 190 km. The sea in the vicinity of the cyclone’s center is extremely rough.
This matter has been confirmed in special notification number 15 of the Department of Meteorology on Saturday.
According to the notification signed by meteorologist Md. Bajlur Rashid, the center of very strong cyclone Mokha, located in the East-Central Bay of Bengal and surrounding areas, is moving towards the North/North-East and has become more concentrated in the same area. It was 705 km south/south-west of Chittagong sea port, 630 km south/south-west of Cox’s Bazar sea port, 695 km south of Mongla seaport, and 645 km south of Payra sea port at noon.
It may move further north/northeast and intensify and cross Cox’s Bazar and the north coast of Myanmar between 6 am and 6 pm on May 14. The impact of the front of the very strong cyclone may begin in the coastal areas of Chittagong and Barisal divisions from tonight, May 13.The Meteorological Department has issued the 10th major danger signal in the coastal district of Cox’s Bazar. Apart from this, Chittagong and Payra seaports have been asked to show warning signal number 8 and Mongla seaport number 4.
According to the notification, due to the impact of the frontal part of the cyclone and the excess air pressure difference, the coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong and the low areas of their remote islands and chars may be flooded with high tides of 8 to 12 feet higher than the normal tide.
Due to the advance of the cyclone and excess pressure difference, the coastal districts of Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Barisal, Bhola, and the low-lying areas of their nearby islands and chars may be inundated by wind-driven tides 5 to 7 feet higher than the normal tide.
Heavy to very heavy rains may occur in Chittagong, Sylhet, and Barisal divisions under the influence of a very strong cyclone and landslides may occur in Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachari, and hilly areas of Chittagong due to very heavy rains.All fishing boats and trawlers in the North Bay of Bengal have been asked to remain in safe harbor till further instructions.
