Coast Evacuated Ahead Of Big Storm

Tens of thousands of people headed for concrete storm shelters Sunday ahead of a powerful cyclone that’s expected to batter the southern coast of Bangladesh with winds up to 125 mph.

Heavy rains pelted this southern port Sunday evening, and the storm’s full force was expected to arrive this morning.

The country’s meteorological agency predicted a 12-foot tidal surge along with powerful winds.

Boats ferried islanders to the mainland, and more than 40,000 volunteers began moving coastal residents to higher ground or into one of 1,200 storm shelters in the region, officials and relief workers said.

“The evacuation is going full swing,” said Ali Imam Majumdar, government administrator in Cox’s Bazar.

About 10 million people live in the at-risk region.

Many people Sunday did not heed warnings to evacuate, preferring to stay home to prevent thieves from taking their cattle or other belongings, said spokesman Golam Rabbani of the Red Crescent relief agency.