Cyclone Mora hits Bangladesh coast: weather office

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Bangladeshi villagers take refuge in a cyclone shelter following an evacuation by authorities in the coastal villages of the Cox's Bazar district on May 29, 2017 as Cyclone 'Mora' gradually approaches towards the coastline. Bangladesh has evacuated nearly 300,000 people as Cyclone Mora barrelled towards its southeastern coast at speeds of more than 85 kilometres (53 miles) per hour, officials said May 29. / AFP PHOTO / STR
Bangladeshi villagers take refuge in a cyclone shelter following an evacuation by authorities in the coastal villages of the Cox’s Bazar district on May 29./ AFP /

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AFP) — Severe Cyclone Mora hit Bangladesh Tuesday packing winds of up to 117 kilometers per hour (73mph) after authorities evacuated hundreds of thousands of people from low-lying coastal villages.

The storm made landfall on the coast between Cox’s Bazar and the main port city of Chittagong at 6:00 am (0000 GMT), the Bangladesh Meteorological Department said in a special weather bulletin.

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