Cyclone Sitrang left a trail of devastation in Bangladesh. At least 28 people died, five million are still without power. The intensity and frequency of such storms is increasing, scientists say.
At least 28 people died in southern Bangladesh when Cyclone Sitrang passed through, and five million are still without electricity. In the search for surviving crew members of a dredger boat that sank in the hurricane, the rescue workers were only able to recover four of them dead, four more are still missing.
Cyclone destroys numerous crops and fish farms
Aid organizations such as the Catholic Caritas and the authorities have already started relief efforts for those affected by the cyclone. Caritas regional director Francis Bapari told the Asian press service Ucanews: “We are now assessing the extent of the damage. Accordingly, we will then ask international donor organizations for help through our national office.” The hurricane also destroyed crops. According to an initial estimate by the Ministry of Agriculture, 11 percent of the crops in 13 affected regions are affected. In the Khulna region, more than 191,000 hectares of fish farms have been washed away by torrential rains and high waves from the Bay of Bengal.
Government: Around 10,000 homes destroyed or damaged
“Sitrang” swept across the southern coastal region on Monday with wind speeds of around 90 kilometers per hour. The effects of the storm were still clearly felt in the capital, Dhaka, hundreds of kilometers away. Around a million people were able to be brought to safety in good time. They were allowed to return to their homes on Wednesday, and in many places there was a picture of destruction. The government spoke of around 10,000 destroyed or damaged houses.
Cyclones are a constant threat in this part of the world, but scientists estimate their intensity and frequency are increasing. At the same time, the number of fatalities has been greatly reduced in recent years thanks to better evacuation plans and weather forecasts.