Storm brews over weather warnings

Bangladesh adopts a 10-point storm severity signal system, with 1 being raised for even a small storm and 10 saved for all but the most severe. The international Tropical Storm Tracker uses a five-point scale, with 5 being the most severe.

Alamgir Kabir, captain of St Vincent-flagged Ashrar E Mostafa, told Reuters that they were caught off guard when Bangladesh officials raised the signal directly from 4 to 9 in a matter of hours. “That initially confused men on merchant ships in the Bay of Bengal,” he said.

Had they raised the signal gradually, he said, it would have been easier for sailors to make preparations.

As the warning signal was raised, Chittagong Port ordered all vessels to leave their berths and move to outer anchorages.

“We were put in a mad race to get the ships out of the jetties,” said Mohammad Zulfiqar, captain of Bangladeshi merchant ship Banga Bijoy.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department officials defended their actions, saying the signal had been raised swiftly because the situation warranted it.

“Not all of the sea storms hit the shore,” said Shah Alam, a senior meteorologist at BMD.

“So we (only) raise the alarm when we are certain that it is going to hit us.”

As the situation deteriorated, Kabir moved his ship, with 26 crew onboard, to even deeper waters to avoid colliding with other vessels. High waves and severe winds pounded the ship, often listing it dangerously, he said.

“We fought against the cyclone for more than eight hours, but thanks to Allah we are alive,” Kabir said.