Cyclone Mora hits Bangladesh coast

Dhaka, May 30: 300,000 people have been evacuated from southern coastal areas of Bangladesh as a cyclone dubbed Mora was forecast to make landfall on Tuesday, authorities here said.

"More people were still waiting for evacuation," Abu Syed Mohammad Hashim, director general of the country's Disaster Management Department, said.

Residents were seeking shelter in schools and other safe buildings in 17 coastal districts, Hashim said. Officials have organized 3,800 relief centers ahead of the storm.

Medical teams have been formed and doctors and nurses have had their leave requests canceled in anticipation of the storm's landfall, according to Bangladeshi state media.



The country's two main seaports in Chittagong and Mongla have stopped operations, and river transports across Bangladesh have been suspended.

Chittagong and Cox's Bazar have been advised to hoist the number 10 warning signal -- the highest level -- and other areas the lesser number eight signal.

The airports have also been closed indefinitely .