Cyclone Midhili wreaked havoc in Bangladesh, resulting in the loss of seven lives as it pounded the South Asian nation with intense rainfall and powerful winds.
The cyclone caused widespread devastation across coastal districts following its landfall on Friday afternoon.
Tragically, a family of four lost their lives when their mud house collapsed due to heavy rains in Cox’s Bazar district, approximately 400 km southeast of Dhaka, according to local officials.
In addition, three fatalities were reported from incidents involving falling trees in the southeastern Chattogram and central Tangail districts.
The cyclone inflicted significant damage to crops in coastal areas, prompting the evacuation of tens of thousands of individuals to storm shelters for safety.
The forceful winds led to the disruption of power supply in coastal regions as electricity poles were uprooted, leaving wires entangled with debris.
Approximately 300 fishermen sought refuge in the Sundarbans, one of the world’s largest mangrove forests located in the southwest of the country, as the cyclone struck faster than anticipated. This unexpected speed prevented the fishermen from reaching secure shelters in time.
Golam Mostofa Chowdhury, president of the Barguna District Fishing Trawlers Owners Association, expressed concern, stating that “25 trawlers carrying 300 fishermen have not returned home” as reported by the local English newspaper New Age on Saturday.
