Three dead and 275,000 people flee to shelters in Bangladesh as Cyclone Hamoon makes landfall

Hamoon is most recent in series of major storms to pummel coastal regions of Bangladesh

A man inspects his damaged home in Cox’s Bazar on 25 October 2023, following the landfall of Cyclone Hamoon. Nearly 275,000 people in Bangladesh fled to shelters as Cyclone Hamoon barrelled into the southeastern coast, killing at least three people, officials said (AFP via Getty Images)

Three people were killed and over 275,000 people forced to find emergency shelters in Bangladesh as Cyclone Hamoon made landfall near the southeastern coast.

Walls and trees collapsed due to the impact of Hamoon on Tuesday night, leading to the deaths, the Dhaka Tribune reported.

Hamoon is the most recent in a series of major storms to pummel the coastal regions of Bangladesh. This low-lying South Asian nation is experiencing a growing frequency of severe weather events – a trend that is usually attributed by climate scientists to the climate crisis.

Senior official Kamrul Hasan, who is the secretary of the disaster management ministry, was quoted as saying by AFP: “We evacuated 273,352 people to cyclone shelters.”

“At least 10 people were injured and are being treated in hospitals,” he told the outlet. However, several other outlets said that nearly 20 sustained injuries.

Power lines were severed and coastal villages and islands endured heavy rainfall but local media said that there were no reports of extensive or significant damage.

Cyclone Hamoon made landfall in the Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar coastal districts in the early hours of Wednesday morning, with wind speeds of up to 104kph.

The cyclone is expected to further move inland and weaken gradually.

Local media reported that Hamoon has taken a heavy toll on Cox’s Bazar, catching residents off guard due to the cyclonic storm’s abrupt arrival.

Residents also alleged that there was a lack of timely warnings from the meteorological office which has drawn criticism from many.

A resident, Shahena Akhtar, told Dhaka Tribune that the local authorities failed to provide timely information resulting in residents being caught off guard and ill-prepared for the cyclone.

Cox’s Bazar deputy commissioner Muhammad Shaheen Imran, however, stressed that there was no negligence on their part. He stated that warning messages had been distributed well in advance before Cyclone Hamoon struck, and proactive measures were implemented to evacuate tourists from Saint Martin’s Island.

Cox’s Bazar district lost power late on Tuesday and district officials could not be contacted for updates on any damages caused, locals alleged.

Meanwhile, Samitipara, Fadnar Dale, and Nazirertek areas experienced extensive damage due to Hamoon.

In May, Cyclone Mocha emerged as the most potent storm to strike Bangladesh since the devastating Cyclone Sidr in November 2007. Sidr killed over 3,000 people and inflicted billions of dollars in damages.