Bangladesh evacuates more than 800,000 individuals in anticipation of cyclone Remal’s arrival | Global News

Over 800,000 people from vulnerable areas have been evacuated to shelters on Sunday as Bangladesh braces for the severe cyclonic storm ‘Remal’ set to make landfall by midnight. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has issued warnings for potential high tidal surges and heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of Satkhira and Cox’s Bazar.

The Met Office has raised “great danger signal no 10 on a scale of 10 for southwestern greater Barisal and its shoals and great danger signal no nine for the southeastern coastlines including the port city of Chattogram. The low-lying areas of the coastal districts are expected to be inundated by a wind-driven surge of 08-12 feet height above normal astronomical tide.

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohibur Rahman stated that over eight lakh people have been evacuated to cyclone centers and other safer places. An intensified evacuation campaign is underway to ensure the safety of vulnerable individuals in the path of the cyclone.

Leaves of officials have been canceled, and operations at ports and airports have been suspended in preparation for the cyclone. National carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines has announced flight suspensions to Cox’s Bazar and Kolkata.

With Cyclone Remal approaching, authorities have stocked sufficient food in cyclone shelters and medical teams are on standby to provide urgent healthcare support. The coastal districts under threat are taking all necessary precautions to minimize the potential damage from the cyclone.

This is the first cyclone in the Bay of Bengal in the pre-monsoon season and is named ‘Remal,’ meaning sand in Arabic, following the naming system for cyclones in the Indian Ocean region. The government and volunteers are working together to ensure the safety of those at risk as the country prepares for the impact of Cyclone Remal.