Bangladesh Red Crescent Cyclone Preparedness Programme volunteers warn coastal communities to evacuate to safety as Cyclone Mora makes landfall. Photo courtesy: Bangladesh Red Crescent Society / IFRC
The impact of
Cyclone Mora is being felt along coastal areas of Bangladesh which made landfall in south east Bangladesh this morning (May 30). The cyclone hit the coast of Bangladesh between Cox’s Bazaar and the city of Chittagong with winds of between 89 -117 kilometres per hour. With high winds and heavy rains, the Bangladesh meteorological office has warned that coastal districts could face flooding as a result of 4-5 metre storm surges along the sea front.
The cyclone, which resulted in heavy rains and flooding in Sri Lanka, intensified as it crossed the Bay of Bengal before hitting the coast of Bangladesh. With Cyclone Mora expected to cause widespread flooding in coastal Bangladesh, affecting thousands of people, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society are particularly concerned about the potential impact on highly vulnerable migrant populations from Myanmar. Red Crescent volunteers have helped to evacuate thousands of people to safety and continue to provide aid.