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| Tropical Storm Mahasen strikes southern Bangladesh | Tropical Storm Mahasen strikes southern Bangladesh |
| (1 day later) | |
| A tropical storm has lashed coastal areas of Bangladesh, killing 12 people, destroying thousands of huts and forcing up to a million people to flee. | A tropical storm has lashed coastal areas of Bangladesh, killing 12 people, destroying thousands of huts and forcing up to a million people to flee. |
| Officials had prepared for a cyclone, but the storm, called Mahasen, weakened considerably before making landfall. | Officials had prepared for a cyclone, but the storm, called Mahasen, weakened considerably before making landfall. |
| The storm hit Patuakhali district on Thursday with heavy rain and wind of up to 100km/h (60mph). | The storm hit Patuakhali district on Thursday with heavy rain and wind of up to 100km/h (60mph). |
| Early reports suggest Muslim Rohingya living in camps on both sides of the Burma border were spared the worst. | Early reports suggest Muslim Rohingya living in camps on both sides of the Burma border were spared the worst. |
| The United Nations had warned that 8.2 million people were at risk from Mahasen in Bangladesh, Burma and north-east India. | The United Nations had warned that 8.2 million people were at risk from Mahasen in Bangladesh, Burma and north-east India. |
| Several Indian states issued storm alerts and warned people to take precautions against severe weather conditions. | Several Indian states issued storm alerts and warned people to take precautions against severe weather conditions. |
| The storm weakened over the Bay of Bengal, however, and forecasters say it is likely to dissipate within 24 hours. | The storm weakened over the Bay of Bengal, however, and forecasters say it is likely to dissipate within 24 hours. |
| Centres crowded | Centres crowded |
| The Bangladeshi government said it had evacuated 956,672 people from coastal areas to more than 3,200 cyclone shelters. | The Bangladeshi government said it had evacuated 956,672 people from coastal areas to more than 3,200 cyclone shelters. |
| Officials broadcast warning messages before Mahasen hit. | Officials broadcast warning messages before Mahasen hit. |
| Airports in Chittagong and the resort town of Cox's Bazar were closed, and Chittagong's port also remains closed, says the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Chittagong. | Airports in Chittagong and the resort town of Cox's Bazar were closed, and Chittagong's port also remains closed, says the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Chittagong. |
| The Bangladeshi authorities earlier raised the danger level to seven out of 10 for low-lying areas around Chittagong and Cox's Bazar. | The Bangladeshi authorities earlier raised the danger level to seven out of 10 for low-lying areas around Chittagong and Cox's Bazar. |
| The cyclone covered more than 175km in nine hours before hitting the coast, Bangladesh's Meteorological Department said. | The cyclone covered more than 175km in nine hours before hitting the coast, Bangladesh's Meteorological Department said. |
| A storm surge destroyed thousands of huts and caused flooding in coastal areas. | A storm surge destroyed thousands of huts and caused flooding in coastal areas. |
| All schools, colleges and some hotels have been declared cyclone shelters, and most were packed overnight. | All schools, colleges and some hotels have been declared cyclone shelters, and most were packed overnight. |
| 'Race against time' | 'Race against time' |
| In Burma, there were fears for tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims living in camps in low-lying areas of Rakhine state. | In Burma, there were fears for tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims living in camps in low-lying areas of Rakhine state. |
| They were displaced by ethnic violence last year and many were reluctant to move from the camps. | They were displaced by ethnic violence last year and many were reluctant to move from the camps. |
| One refugee, Hla Maung, said he had lost his mother and two young daughters during the clashes between Muslims and Buddhists last year, and would not move from the camp. | One refugee, Hla Maung, said he had lost his mother and two young daughters during the clashes between Muslims and Buddhists last year, and would not move from the camp. |
| "I lost everything. I don't want to go anywhere. I'll stay here. If I die, I want to die here," he said. | "I lost everything. I don't want to go anywhere. I'll stay here. If I die, I want to die here," he said. |
| Burmese Planning Minister Tin Naing Thein said that in all, more than 166,000 people had been relocated. | Burmese Planning Minister Tin Naing Thein said that in all, more than 166,000 people had been relocated. |
| In the event, the storm changed course and appears to have caused only minor damage in Burma. | In the event, the storm changed course and appears to have caused only minor damage in Burma. |
| Cyclone Mahasen earlier hit Sri Lanka, causing floods and mudslides that killed at least seven people, according to the country's Disaster Management Centre. | Cyclone Mahasen earlier hit Sri Lanka, causing floods and mudslides that killed at least seven people, according to the country's Disaster Management Centre. |
| At least 50 Rohingya Muslims drowned on Tuesday when boats evacuating them from the path of the cyclone capsized off western Burma. | At least 50 Rohingya Muslims drowned on Tuesday when boats evacuating them from the path of the cyclone capsized off western Burma. |