Tropical Cyclone “Hamoon” makes landfall in Bangladesh

Tropical Cyclone “Hamoon” formed on October 23, 2023, as the 4^th named storm of the 2023 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. Hamoon approached the coast of Bangladesh on October 24 while rapidly weakening, and made landfall north of Cox’s Bazar at around 16:00 UTC with maximum 10-minute sustained winds between 110 km/h (70 mph) and 120 (75 mph).

Maritime ports of Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar have been advised to hoist danger signal No. 7 ahead of the landfall, while ports of Payra and Mongla hoisted signal No. 5. All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.

Hamoon brought very heavy rainfall, posing significant landslide risk at places over the hilly regions of Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachari, and Chattogram.

Under the peripheral effect of the cyclone and steep pressure gradient, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, and their offshore islands were forecast to be inundated by a wind-driven surge of 60 to 90 cm (2 – 3 feet) above normal astronomical tide.

The cyclone completed crossing the coast at 19:00 UTC on October 24 (01:00 LT on October 25) and weakened into a deep depression near Satkania, Chattogram. It is forecast to continue moving further inland while weakening and dropping heavy rain.

Preliminary casualty reports indicate that at least three people have lost their lives, with many more injured. Hundreds of houses are damaged, many trees along the coast of Cox’s Bazar have been uprooted, and numerous small shops near the beach have been destroyed.

Maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to lower danger signal No. 5 and instead to hoist local cautionary signal No. 3. All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.

Update

October 25

Three fatalities and at least six injured people have been reported in Cox’s Bazar City, with 1.5 million people impacted. Nearly 273 000 people have been evacuated.

Cox’s Bazar District experienced serious communication disruption, preventing access to real-time information, particularly in rural areas and refugees’ camps. In refugees’ camps and adjacent host communities, Disaster Management Committees and Cyclone Preparedness Programme have been activated, DG ECHO reported.

References:

¹ Special Weather Bulletin, SL. No: 15 – Bangladesh Meteorological Department/StormWarning Center – October 25, 2023

² Tropical Cyclone 06B (Hamoon) Warning #06 – JTWC – Issued at 24/1500Z

Featured image: Tropical Cyclone “Hamoon” at 17:00 UTC on October 24, 2023. Credit: KMA/GEO-KOMPSAT-2A, RAMMB/CIRA, The Watchers