Severe cyclone Murasu to hit Andhra coast

Cyclone Murasu, which formed over the Bay of Bengal, has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and is moving northwestwards, with a possible landfall along India's Andhra Pradesh coast on Monday night.

The storm has prompted the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) to advise the country's four seaports to hoist Local Cautionary Signal No. 2 (distant warning signal No. 2).

The information was provided in the BMD's seventh special bulletin issued on Monday (November 2) and signed by meteorologist Khand. Hafizur Rahman.

According to the bulletin, Cyclone Murasu, located over the west-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, has moved northwestwards and intensified further. It was positioned at latitude 13.7 degrees north and longitude 82.6 degrees east.

At 3 am on Monday, the cyclone was located 1,390 km southwest of Chattogram seaport, 1,350 km southwest of Cox's Bazar seaport, 1,245 km southwest of Mongla seaport and 1,255 km southwest of Payra seaport.

Maximum sustained winds near the centre of the cyclone were reaching 89 kph, with gusts or squalls of up to 117 kph. The sea remained very rough near the storm's centre.

In view of the situation, the BMD advised Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra seaports to hoist distant warning signal No. 2.

The weather office also instructed fishing boats and trawlers operating in the North Bay to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.