Evacuation of Tens of Thousands from the Coasts of Bangladesh as Severe Storm 'Remal' Approaches

As a severe tropical storm approaches the low-lying coasts of Bangladesh, tens of thousands of people in the country left their coastal villages on Sunday to seek shelter in inland areas. The storm, named 'Remal', is expected to hit the southern coasts of Bangladesh and parts of India on Sunday evening, with the Bangladesh Meteorological Department predicting pounding waves and strong winds of up to 130 kilometers per hour. Reports indicate that about 4,000 storm shelters have been prepared along the long coast of the country in the Bay of Bengal, and the storm is expected to affect an area extending 220 kilometers from Sagar Island in India to Khulna in Bangladesh. Most coastal areas of Bangladesh are situated one or two meters above sea level, and severe storm surges could devastate local villages. Mohammad Abul Qasim Malik, a senior meteorological official in the country, told AFP, 'This storm could create waves up to four meters above normal tide levels, which is dangerous.' As people fled, police reported that a passenger boat with over 50 occupants, which was double its capacity, sank near Mongla, a port in the storm's predicted path, leaving at least 13 injured. Meanwhile, Indian airport authorities announced that Kolkata Airport would suspend flight operations for 21 hours starting midnight Sunday due to the approaching severe storm. This is the first storm in the Bay of Bengal before this year's monsoon season, which begins in June and ends in September. Storms in recent decades have killed hundreds of thousands in Bangladesh, but the number of severe storms hitting the low-lying, densely populated country has significantly increased due to climate change, rising from one storm per year to three.