The death toll from a cyclone that struck low-lying Bangladesh has risen to at least 10, destroyed more than 30,000 homes and damaged tens of thousands more, local authorities said on Monday.
“Most of them died after being crushed under collapsed houses and fallen walls,” said Shaukat Ali, district administrator of Barisal, where seven people were killed.
Three others died in nearby areas, some by drowning.
Cyclone Lemal made landfall on Sunday night, bringing fierce winds and rough seas to coastal areas.
It had weakened into a storm by Monday afternoon, but winds and rain still battered coastal areas.
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“Heavy rains due to the cyclone are continuing and wind speeds are also high,” Ali added.
Two people were killed in Klang district, government administrator Helal Mahmoud told AFP.
“The cyclone has damaged over 1,23,000 houses in the division, of which around 31,000 are completely destroyed,” he said.
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One more person was killed in Chittagong, where “more than 40,000 people remain in cyclone shelters due to heavy rains and strong winds,” administrative official Tofael Islam told AFP.
Vishwanath Sikdar, chief engineer at the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board, Bangladesh's largest state-run electricity distribution company, said more than 12.5 million people were without power.
“Power supply will be resumed once the cyclone situation improves,” he said.
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