Remal hits Bangladesh coasts

Severe cyclonic storm Remal has started crossing the Khepupara coast of Bangladesh from the southwest side of Mongla.

It made the landfall around 8:00pm on Sunday (26 May), according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).

The center of the cyclone may move further north and may cross the coast within 1-2 hours, Md Shamim Ahsan, Deputy Director of Cyclone Warning Center of BMP, said.

He said the cyclone is approximately 400 km in size and its front entered the Sundarbans near the Khulna coast around 6:00pm, resulting in heavy rains along the coast.

Bangladesh Met Office has advised hoisting great danger signal 10 for Mongla and Payra ports as well as nine coastal districts.

The districts under great danger signal 10 are Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Jhalokathi, Barguna, Barishal, Bhola and Patuakhali.

A tital of 1,149 cyclone shelters, with the capacity to house over 758,680 people have been readied in Khulna, Satkhira, and Bagerhat districts.

The Sundarbans are a major concern while rescue efforts are planned if necessary.

East Sundarbans Division has implemented additional safety measures at wildlife breeding centres.