“People have been coming here since morning, but they have no provision for drinking water. The most difficult is the toilet. Everyone has been going to their homes to use the toilet again. We men somehow manage. “Women and children are suffering the most,” Abdul Malek, a resident of St. Martin, told Odysseynews
In such a situation, at least 40 resorts including a shelter have been arranged for the safe shelter of the locals. At dawn, thousands of islanders rushed to the resorts. Many took shelter on Saturday night as well.
Mujibur Rahman, chairman of the local union council, said that around six and a half thousand people have been sheltered in the resorts built on solid concrete structures on the island.
They have taken shelter in the two and three floors of these resorts which have been chosen as shelters.
However, the locals have reported the suffering of so many people in a small place.
No food was given to the people who were still in the shelter from morning until 11:30 pm. Everyone had breakfast with whatever food they brought from their homes.
They said that many people are returning home to have breakfast.
Micking is being done from morning so that everyone should go back to the resorts and keep dry food with them.
Meanwhile, in the last two days, at least 2,500 people from St. Martin have gone to Teknaf by boat to escape the storm, for safe shelter.
However, the local chairman claims that none of them are residents of Saint Martin. They come to the island for various work purposes and stay temporarily. That is why they went to their original address as soon as the storm was forecast.
He said, “In St. Martin, people are brought in from outside for fishing, farm work, resort work. They travel between Teknaf and Saint Martin. Those who have gone in the last few days are not locals. All the people of Saint Martin are on the island. They are used to seeing these storms.”
Meanwhile, local residents reported that there was heavy rain and moderate gusts of wind in St. Martin since seven in the morning.
Besides, many people tried to leave the island early in the morning due to rough seas, but they stayed in shelters later.
It is known that at least 11 thousand inhabitants live on this island with an area of eight square kilometers in the Bay of Bengal.
But the disaster-prone island has only two government shelters with a maximum capacity of 400-500 people. But so far only one is active.
Two shelters are in the northern part of the island. There are no shelters in the south.
The work of moving the people of St. Martin to safe shelter has started since morning.
It is feared that most of the houses on the island may be destroyed if there is a big flood. Because the houses of the locals on the island are made of thatched roofs, bamboo and polythene fences.
Meanwhile, meteorologist Abdul Mannan said that on Sunday morning, the front of Mokha moved north-northeastward past St. Martin and is already crossing the coast of Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar and Myanmar’s Rakhine region.
Mohammad Azizur Rahman, director of Bangladesh Meteorological Department, said that the peak hour of cyclone Mokha will be 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, that is, the cyclone will hit the Bangladesh part during this period.
By 12 noon it will hit St. Martin.
During this time, the maximum continuous wind speed can increase up to 215 km.
The tide has already started in the Bay of Bengal, Naf River and adjacent rivers, and the intensity of the tide will increase by 4 pm. During this time, a high tide of eight to 10 feet is expected.
The Meteorological Department has predicted that Mokha will start weakening after 4 pm and the intensity of the cyclone will reduce by evening.
Mr. Rahman said that the area through which the super cyclone is passing is 50-60 km south of Teknaf.
“There is less risk in Bangladesh to cross through the Myanmar seaway. Especially in Cox’s Bazar, Teknaf, the risk is very low. More risk will be in Myanmar and its southern region,” said Mr. Rahman
Distress signal number 10 remains in force in Cox’s Bazar. In addition, Chittagong and Payra seaports have been asked to show distress signal number 8. Mongla seaport has been asked to display local warning signal number 4.
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