Bangladesh cyclone kills hundreds - Parveen Ahmed

A cyclone that slammed into Bangladesh's coast with 150 mph winds killed at least 242 people, levelled homes and forced the evacuation of 650,000 villagers before heading inland and losing power today, officials said.

Tropical Cyclone Sidr roared across the country's southwestern coast late Thursday with driving rain and high waves. Most of the dead were killed by falling debris, according to Nahid Sultana, an official at a cyclone control room in the capital, Dhaka.

Downpours and staggering winds also spawned a water surge four feet high that swept through low-lying areas and some offshore islands, leaving them under water, she said.

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