DHAKA : At least 24 people have been killed and over 100 others injured as cyclone Roanu battered Bangladesh’s southern coast, triggering landslides, prompting authorities to evacuate about five lakh people.
With a wind speed of up to 88 kilometres per hour, the cyclone hit the Barisal-Chittagong region, sending impacts across the country. Most places witnessed rain and thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty and squally wind yesterday morning.
“The death toll now stands at 24 with four more casualties reported overnight,” Bangladesh’s Disaster Management department’s Director General Reaz Ahmed said.
11 people including minor children were killed in the northwestern port city of Chittagong, which appeared to have suffered the worst in the cyclone, Ahmed said.
The southwestern Bhola, northwestern Noakhali and Cox’s Bazar coastal districts witnessed three deaths while the storm damaged 85,000 homesteads and business structures along the coastlines, he said.
Several of the victims drowned in inflated waters caused by surges while landslides, collapse of houses and uprooted trees killed others, officials said.
“The officer in charge of Banskhali (of Chittagong) police station reported that seven people were killed there alone… They were victims of drowning or landslides,” a police officer stationed in the port city said. (AGENCIES)
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