Cyclone Mocha: Major evacuations as cyclone threatens Bangladesh

Around fractional a cardinal radical are being evacuated to safer areas successful southbound eastbound Bangladesh, up of a cyclone that could beryllium highly dangerous.

Cyclone Mocha is predicted to marque landfall connected Sunday, with 170kph winds and tempest surges of up to 12 feet.

There are concerns the cyclone could interaction the world's largest exile camp, Cox's Bazar, wherever adjacent to a cardinal radical unrecorded successful makeshift homes.

Rains are already falling connected the campy and reddish informing flags person been raised.

Cyclone Mocha could beryllium the astir almighty cyclone seen successful Bangladesh successful astir 2 decades.

As the upwind strategy heads towards the Bangladesh-Myanmar coast, adjacent airports person been shut, fishermen person been told to suspend their work, and 1,500 shelters person been acceptable up, arsenic the process of moving radical from susceptible areas begins.

Officials successful Cox's Bazar said 1,000 radical had already been evacuated from 1 area, with plans to determination a further 8,000 radical from a ward adjacent the formation if the concern worsens.

"We are acceptable to look immoderate hazards... we don't privation to suffer a azygous life," Vibhushan Kanti Das, further lawman commissioner astatine Cox's Bazar told the BBC.

Tourists staying successful formation broadside hotels volition beryllium safe, truthful exigency workers volition determination locals similar fishermen and families who unrecorded successful much susceptible homes, the authoritative said.

In Sittwe City, the superior of Rakkhine state, the rainfall started connected Friday night. The streets emptied retired arsenic radical took shelter, with galore seeking to find information successful cyclone shelters connected precocious ground. There are astir nary lifejackets to beryllium found, and the remaining banal is being sold astatine a higher price. Gas stations besides closed connected Saturday, making it hard for radical to thrust retired of the city.

Close to a cardinal Rohingyas refugees stay astatine risk, surviving successful flimsy bamboo shelters with tarpaulin covers. The UN says it's doing what it tin to support these areas.

Bangladesh's authorities doesn't let refugees to permission their camps, truthful galore accidental they're frightened and unsure of what volition hap if their shelters are deed by the storm.

Forecasters expect the cyclone to bring a deluge of rain, which tin trigger landslides - a superior information for those who reside successful hillside camps, wherever landslips are a regular phenomenon.