It has been reported widely in the media that at least 24 people have been killed and an estimated 1,500 fishermen are missing after tropical storms hit the southern coastal islands of Bangladesh last week.
The storms are said to have hit many areas in the districts of southern Bangladesh where at least 1,500 mud, tin and straw houses have reportedly been destroyed by the storms on Hatiya and Sandwip islands. On the largest island of Bhola, according to police, more than 500 fishermen are missing and at least 500 houses were flattened.
Moktar Hossain, local police chief, told AFP: “More than 100 fishing trawlers, each carrying at least 10 fishermen, have been missing since the storm.”
AP reported that the coast guard and fellow fishermen have been searching for those missing since the storms hit.
It is hoped that the missing fishermen have taken shelter on other remote islands in the Bay of Bengal or in the nearby mangrove forest.
Relief workers are on hand to support communities affected, officials have said.
