Danger signal No 10 for Mongla, Payra as cyclone to cross Khulna coast this evening 

“The coastal districts of Bhola, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, and Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal number 10,” the Met Office said in a special bulletin.

“The maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to lower the danger signal number 7 and hoist great danger signal number 10,” said the special bulletin.

The low-lying areas of the coastal districts are “likely to be inundated by storm surge of 5-7 feet height above the normal astronomical tide” because of the fast-approaching cyclone.

The maritime port of Chattogram was “advised to lower danger signal number 6 and hoist great danger signal number 9”, while the maritime port of Cox’s Bazar was advised to keep hoisted local warning signal number 4.

The coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal No 9.

At 12pm, ‘Bulbul’ was about 280kmsouthwest of Mongla port, 315km southwest of Payra port, 475km southwest of Chattogram port, and 470km southwest of Cox’s Bazar port.

The maximum sustained wind speed within 74kms of the very severe cyclone centre is about 130kph, rising to 150kph. It may cross West Bengal-Khulna coast near the Sundarbans by the evening, the Met Office said.

Khulna, Satkhira, Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Bhola, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, and Bagerhat are likely to experience wind speed up to 120kph with heavy to very heavy rainfall during the passage of the storm.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the government has taken all-out preparations to tackle the approaching severe cyclone ‘Bulbul’.

Earlier on Friday night, all the launch services were suspended amid the impending severe cyclone.

According to the Bangladesh Navy, kept five ships have been ready at Khulna BNS Titumir for emergency relief and rescue operations in Khulna, Barishal, Patuakhali, Jhalakathi, and Barguna.