DHAKA: Cyclone Roanu has hit the Bangladesh coast, this afternoon leaving at least 6 people dead and about 50 injured. In the coastal districts of Chittagong, Bhola and Patuakhali, the strong winds have left hundreds of houses damaged and trees were uprooted. The Met office said the cyclone will cross the Chittagong coast on today as it started weakening after causing heavy rain.

Roanu has hit the coast Saturday afternoon at 80 kilometers per hour. Authorities have reported that about ten thousands of people left their homes to sit out the storm in more than 2,000 shelters. The gusty wind and the heavy rainfall caused heavy damage to the region's mud-and-tin houses and about 5 people were killed in the southern districts, said officials.

The rain also resulted in the landslide in Sitakundu in Chittagong. A mother along with her child was killed when their home was buried in the slide, said a police inspector, Shah Alam to a news agency.

To avoid further accidents and damage, the movement of all vessels across the country was restricted by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority.

(inputs from VOA)

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