At least 14 killed as cyclone hits Bangladesh

Cyclone Mahasen has hit the coast of Bangladesh, forcing the evacuation of one million people and killing 14.

But authorities breathed a sigh of relief after Mahasen, with winds of 100 kilometres per hour, lost much of its punch after making landfall.

At least 14 people were killed by drowning and falling trees as tens of thousands of mud, tin and straw-built homes were flattened by pounding rain and flooding.

One million people spent the night in 3,000 cyclone shelters, schools and colleges along Bangladesh's long, winding coastline which is home to 30 million people.

An official in the south of the country says many villagers had refused to move to shelters for fear their cattle would be stolen.

Shamsuddun Ahmed, the deputy head of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department says the cyclone was not as severe as feared.

He says it was downgraded to a tropical depression as it headed for north-eastern India.

"We're lucky," he said.

The storm also claimed the lives of 22 Muslim Rohingya people from neighbouring Myanmar, who had been missing since their boat capsized on Monday as they fled the oncoming storm.

Their bodies, including those of 14 children and six women, were found on a beach near the Myanmar border.

Bangladesh authorities are expected the remaining 31 missing people to wash ashore.

Friday 17 May 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-17/14-killed-as-cyclone-hits-bangladesh/4695404