The death toll over Thursday night's devastating cyclonic storm
Sidr in Bangladesh rose to 1,795 till 9 p.m. Saturday evening by
official count, private news agency UNB reported.
However, unofficial casualty figure may exceed 3,000 as massive
search operations into inaccessible areas continued.
The terrible cyclone Sidr lashed Bangladesh’s south and
southwestern coastal regions Thursday evening with a speed of up to
240 km per hour, affecting some 25 out of the country's 64
districts.
The southern districts of Bagerhat, Patuakhali, Borguna,
Pirojpur and Barisal were the worst hit areas.
Bagerhat control room gave the death toll as 610 for the district.
The Deputy Commissioner, however, said the death toll could rise
with reports reaching from remote areas.
District control room of Patuakhali put the figure at 261 in the
evening. But the Red Crescent said 509 people died in the backwater
coastal district.
Similarly in Barguna, the district control room put the death
figure at 362. Officials counted around 500 missing, all of whom
are feared washed away by the high waves whipped by the super
cyclone Sidr. Unofficial sources said the casualty figure might
climb over 1,000.
Besides, the figures of Pirojpur and Barisal districts have been
given as 254 and 83 respectively.
(Xinhua News Agency November 18, 2007)
