Roundup: Nearly half million evacuated as cyclone lashes Bangladesh

Bangladesh evacuated nearly half a million people as cyclone Komen closed in on the country's southeast coastlines on Thursday, with winds uprooting trees and tearing into hundreds of flimsy homes.

One person is confirmed to have died in St Martin's Island near Cox's Bazar, some 292 km southeast of capital Dhaka.

Hundreds of houses have been destroyed in the winds of the approaching cyclone in Cox's Bazar.

Ali Hossain, Cox's Bazar district administration chief, told Xinhua that "a man died hit by a coconut tree at St Martin's Island early Thursday."

Two more deaths due to tree falling were reported in southern Bhola and Patuakhali districts, some 205 km away of Dhaka.

The cyclone is expected to move east-northeast and make landfall along the coastlines in Chittagong, some 242 km southeast of Dhaka, by Thursday evening accompanying winds from 80 to 100 km per hour.

There are possibilities that the cyclone may let off steam with gusts of rain and become weaker upon landfall.

Bangladesh Wednesday night ordered evacuation of nearly half a million people from its coastlines as the cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal is poised to cross the country's southern coast in the early hours of Thursday.

Bangladesh's Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief said some 50,000 volunteers are ready for emergency duties at any moment with support of all other government agencies.

Television footage showed widespread flooding in coastal areas of Cox's Bazar, Chittagong and Patuakhali and 12 other districts where some 500,000 people have been evacuated from their homes.

The authorities raised the danger level to seven out of 10 for low-lying areas around Chittagong and the coastal district of Cox' s Bazaar. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the storm could create a surge 2-3 meters high in coastal districts and residents were being urged to make for cyclone shelters.

Officials say evacuations in 15 coastal districts including Chittagong and Cox's Bazar began Wednesday shortly after the BMD raised its warning level.

"We've directed authorities to launch an evacuation of people living in risky areas at the shoreline in view of the advancement of the storm," said Ali Hossain, Cox's Bazar district administration, told Xinhua.

"We've so far evacuated approximately 300,000 people from low- lying coastal areas."

The BMD reported, "strong winds and a dangerous storm surge" along the coast during the second landfall which was expected by Thursday evening.

The storm continued to approach Bangladesh, bringing lashing rains and strong winds to the country's southern coast, home to millions.

In its latest special bulletin, the BMD said the cyclone, at about 9:00 a.m. Thursday, was cantered about 65 km southwest of the country's premier Chittagong seaport (some 242 km southeast of Dhaka), 80 km northwest of Cox's Bazar seaport (some 391 km southeast of Dhaka), and 205 km south of Mongla port (some 178 km south of Dhaka).

According to the BMD bulletin, the low-lying areas of some coastal districts are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 8- 10 feet height above normal astronomical tide.

The danger signal No. 7 has been sounded for all the districts and ports where fishing boats, trawlers and maritime vessels over the north bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.

Due to very heavy rainfall, the BMD said landslide may occur at places over the hilly regions of Chittagong division. Endi