Mocha centred about 250km away from Cox’s Bazar

The very severe cyclonic storm Mocha was centred about 250km south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar port. It has been drizzling in Cox’s Bazar since morning.

Cyclone Mocha is approaching the coastal areas of Bangladesh and Myanmar with a maximum wind speed of 210km per hour, according to the latest bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Sunday (May 14).

According to the bulletin, the very severe cyclonic storm was centred about 335km south-southwest of Chattogram port, 250km south-southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 435km south of Mongla port and 350km south of Payra port.

It is likely to intensify further and move in a north-northwesterly direction and cross Cox’s Bazar-North Myanmar’s coast between 9:00am to 3:00pm today (May 14), according to BMD.

According to latest bulletin, the maximum sustained wind speed within 74km of the very severe cyclone centre at midnight was about 190 kmph rising to 215 kmph in gusts.

The maritime port of Cox’s Bazar has been asked to hoist the Great Danger Signal 10 due to the influence of Cyclone Mocha.

Under the peripheral effect of very severe cyclone and steep pressure gradient, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram, and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by the wind driven surge height of 08-12 feet above normal astronomical tide, said Abdur Rahman, Acting Chief Meteorologist Cox’s Bazar Met Office.

Under the effect of very severe cyclone, Chattogram, Sylhet and Barishal divisions are likely to be experienced of the heavy (44-88 mm) to very heavy rainfall (289 mm). 

Due to very heavy rainfall, landslide may occur at places over the hilly regions of Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachari and Chattogram, the met office predicted.