The Cox’s Bazar district administration has opened an emergency control room and kept 648 cyclone shelters ready as days of heavy rainfall have triggered widespread flooding, waterlogging and an elevated risk of landslides across the coastal district.
With the situation expected to worsen, local authorities have been using loudspeakers to urge residents living on hill slopes, at the foot of hills and in low-lying flood-prone areas to move immediately to safer locations. In some cases, officials have been evacuating residents by force to prevent casualties.
In a public notice issued on Wednesday afternoon, the district administration said Local Cautionary Signal No. 3 remained in force for Cox’s Bazar seaport and that the Bangladesh Meteorological Department had forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next few days.
Residents in vulnerable areas were urged to take shelter at the nearest cyclone shelter without delay to minimise the risk of loss of life.
The administration also asked people to contact its emergency control room at 01872-615132 for any disaster-related assistance.
District Commissioner Md A Mannan said all 648 cyclone shelters across the district had been prepared, while an emergency control room had been opened at the deputy commissioner’s office to coordinate rescue, relief and emergency response activities.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and follow government safety instructions until the adverse weather conditions improve.
According to local public representatives, persistent rainfall caused by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal and an active monsoon has inundated at least 35 unions across the district’s 10 upazilas.
Flooding, waterlogging and landslides have so far claimed 20 lives, while at least 100,000 people have been marooned.
Large parts of Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Ukhiya, Teknaf, Ramu, Chakaria, Maheshkhali, Kutubdia, Pekua and Eidgaon upazilas have been severely affected by the ongoing disaster.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Mohammad Morshed
