Cyclone Bulbul: Mongla, Payra asked to hoist great danger signal No. 10
The Bangladesh Met Office on Saturday morning asked to hoist great danger signal No. 10 for Mongla and Payra ports and signal no. 9 for other coastal districts in the southern Bangladesh as very severe cyclonic storm Bulbul approaches.
The maritime port of Chattogram and five nearby districts were advised to hoist great danger signal No. 9, the met office said in a special bulletin at 8:00am.
Bulbul intensified further and lied over Northwest Bay and adjoining west-central Bay in the morning.
The met office bulletin said the very severe cyclonic storm Bulbul over Northwest Bay and adjoining area moved further northwards and now lies over the same area.
It was centred about 525km southwest of Chattogram port, 510km southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 350km southwest of Mongla port and 375km southwest of Payra port at 6:00am on Saturday.
The storm is likely to move in a north/northeasterly direction and may cross West Bengal- Khulna coast (near the Sundarbans) by this evening. Under its peripheral influence gusty or squally wind may affect the maritime ports, North Bay and coastal areas of Bangladesh from the noon.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 74km of the very severe cyclone centre is about 130kph rising to 150kph in gusts or squalls. Sea will remain very high near the very severe cyclone centre, the bulletin added.
Maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to lower danger signal no. 7 but instead hoist great danger signal no. 10. Coastal districts of Bhola, Borguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal no. 10.
Maritime port of Chattogram has been advised to lower danger signal no. 6 but instead hoist great danger signal no. 9. Coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Feni, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal no. 9.
Maritime port of Cox’s Bazar has been advised to keep hoisted local warning signal no. 4, the met office bulletin added.
The coastal districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Chattogram, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barisal, Bhola, Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Bagerhat and their offshore islands and chars are likely to experience wind speed up to 100-120kph in gusts or squalls with heavy to very heavy falls during the passage of the storm.
Under the influence of the very severe cyclonic storm Bulbul and the moon phase, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Barguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 5-7 feet height above normal astronomical tide.
All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.