20 killed, 5 lakh evacuated as cyclone Roanu hits Bangladesh

The cyclone affected hundreds of mud-and-tin houses in two southern districts, flooding with many low-lying villages.The cyclone was located at about 255 km west-southwest of Chittagong, 230 kms off Cox's Bazar, 190 kms off Mongla and 135 kms off Payra Port in the morning. The Met office late Friday turned its ‘local warning signals’ to ‘danger signals’ for all its four seaports.

“The danger signals are applicable for 14 out of 18 coastal districts," a meteorologist said earlier.Authorities have ordered suspension of ferry services with the weather turning rough in the rivers too. “The people are exposed to danger, but most of them are unwilling to take refuge in shelters saying they were familiar with such warnings but the cyclones did not hit eventually,” Deputy Commissioner of southeastern Laxmipur Zillur Rahman said.

Bangladesh is vulnerable to cyclones because of its location.