COX’S BAZAR, Bangladesh: As Cyclone Hamoon bore down on Bangladesh’s southeastern coast, approximately 275,000 people sought refuge in shelters on Wednesday, while the storm claimed the lives of at least two individuals.
This powerful cyclone is the latest in a series of severe weather events that have battered Bangladesh’s low-lying coastal areas, and it underscores the escalating challenges posed by climate change as it intensifies storms in the region.
While Cyclone Hamoon caused the disruption of power lines and brought heavy rainfall to coastal villages and islands, there have been no reports of widespread, major structural damage. Mr. Kamrul Hasan, Secretary of the Disaster Management Ministry, stated, “We evacuated 273,352 people to cyclone shelters.” Tragically, two individuals lost their lives due to the storm, one from a fallen tree and the other when a building collapsed. In addition, at least 10 people sustained injuries and were receiving medical treatment in local hospitals.
According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department expert Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallik, Cyclone Hamoon made landfall in the Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar coastal districts early on Wednesday, with wind speeds reaching up to 104 km/h. However, it is expected to move further inland and gradually weaken, which offers some relief to the affected areas.
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Cyclones and severe weather events have become more frequent in Bangladesh, posing significant challenges for disaster management and infrastructure resilience. The nation’s vulnerability to these climatic events has been amplified by rising sea levels and a changing climate, making it imperative for the government and international agencies to focus on disaster preparedness and climate adaptation efforts.
