The deep depression over the northeast Bay and adjoining Bangladesh coast intensified into a cyclonic storm ‘Komen’ that may cross the country’s coast between Barisal and Chittagong Thursday noon or afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department advised Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar maritime ports to hoist danger signal No. 7. It has also advised the Mongla and Payra ports to hoist danger signal No. 5.

A Met office bulletin said Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Bhola, Barisal, Patuakhali, Barguna, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to experience wind speed up to 70-90kph in gusts or squalls with heavy to very heavy falls.

The low-lying areas of these coastal districts plus Jhalokathi, Pirozpur and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 3-5 feet height above normal astronomical tide, it added.

On Wednesday night, ‘Komen’ was centred at about 110 km southwest of Chittagong port, 105 km west-northwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 170 km southeast of Mongla port and 85 km southeast of Payra port.

All fishing boats, trawlers and marine vessels were advised to return to safety and remain in shelter until further notice.

For seaports, danger signal seven implies that a storm, packing winds between 62-88 kph, of slight or moderate intensity may cross over or near them and will result to severe weather.

Apart from Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar, the Met office also advised danger signal No. 7 for Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Bhola and their offshore islands and chars.

Coastal districts such as Barguna, Patuakhali, Barisal, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars were also advised to hoist danger signal No. 5.

The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has ordered the local administrations to take measures to tackle the cyclone in the coastal areas.

The ministry’s Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) policy committee and implementation board held a meeting Wednesday night in Dhaka as the situation deteriorated in the Bay.

The measures include relocating people and livestock from the risky areas, prepare the storm shelters, and having medical teams and local hospitals and volunteers at the ready for any emergencies.

The ministry has asked the district administrations of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati and Bandarban to be alert to any landslides.

Control rooms were also opened at the coastal districts to supervise the countermeasures for cyclone ‘Komen’.