10,000 feared drowned

Press, 27 May 1985, Page 1

10,000 feared drowned

NZPA-AP Dhaka. Bangladesh Tidal waves washed all 10,000 people on the tiny island of Urirchar into the Bay of Bengal during a cyclone and rescuers had little hope for their survival. Bangladesh officials said yesterday. Officials at the cyclone control room at the chief martial law administrator's secretariat told Associated Press that the 10,000 were washed into the sea on Saturday by waves 3m to 5m high.

No contact could be established with the island, but the officials, who de-

clined to be identified, said an aircraft had flown over and reported everything swept away. The Government sent four Navy ships to join Air Force helicopters and Army teams to rescue large numbers of people floating in the rough waters of the Bay of Bengal. So far. only the rescue of a family of four has been reported. The officials at the secretariat confirmed 248 deaths in the cyclone, but said the figure was almost certain to rise as fresh information was pouring in from he affected areas of Noakhali. Cox's Bazar, Chittagong. Pa-

tuakhali Bhola. Sandwip and Kutubdia Island.

Sources in Dhaku gave an unofficial death toll of well above 1000. The Bengali newspaper. Tttefaq," quoted its correspondent in the southern district of Noakhali yesterday as reporting 600 dead in the cyclone, and the recovery of 170 bodies. Officials in Cox's Bazar, reached by telephone, said at least 200 boats were missing in coastal areas. Reports from Chittagong said 39 fishing trawlers capsized near Kutubma Island and their 130 crew members all were, missing.

Earlier report, page 10