DHAKA, Oct 11, 2012: At least 23 people were killed and over 1,000 fishermen missing and many injured when a sudden cyclonic storm hit the coastal areas in Noakhal, Bhola, Hatiya, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Swandip in Bangladesh last night.

Among the deceased, 12 people were killed in Noakhali, seven in Bhola and four in Chittagong districts.

The storm that lasted at least 20 minutes starting from 2 am also destroyed more than 2000 thatched houses and mosques and educational institutions in Subarnachar, Hatia, Companiganj and Sadar upazilas.

The storm also uprooted scores of trees that snapped road communications in Subarnachar and Hatia, our district
correspondents reported.

Among the deceased in Noakhali, identities of seven people were known immediately. They are- Brazolal, 60, Sima Akhter, 12, Mamun, 8, Rajaswi Bela Das, 60, Arif, 10, Sharmin Akhter, 10 and Nurjahan, 55,of Hatiya and Subarnachar upazila of Noakhali district while identity of another body could not be known so far.

In Bhola, seven people were killed and hundreds of thatched houses destroyed in Char Fashion and Monpura upazilas during the storm. Among the deceased, identities of two persons were known immediately. They are- Shah Alam, 40, and Abdul Khalek, 30.

In Chittagong, four people were killed as a storm swept over Swandip and Mirsarai upazilas. Among those, identities of three victims were known so far. They are- Khodeza Begum, 65, Anwara Begum, 30, of Swandip, and Shamsul Haque, 60, of Mirsarai upazila headquarters.

Talking to journalist Mahidur Rahman, upazila Nirbahi officer (UNO) of Hatiya upazila said at least 100 fishermen went missing and around 50 fishing trawlers were capsized in the storm.

Deputy Commissioner of Noakhali Md. Sirajul Islam told reporters that the local administration allocated a cash of Taka 1,73,000 and 30 metric tons of rice as Relief for the cyclone- affected people.