6 cyclone deaths reported in Bangladesh

At least six people were reported to have died Saturday after cyclone "Roanu" smashed into Bangladesh's coast, leveling villages and uprooting trees.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated or sought safe shelter before the storm hit the Bangladesh coast from the Bay of Bengal on Saturday afternoon.

At least three people including a child were reportedly killed in the storm in the southeastern Chittagong district, some 242 km away from capital Dhaka.

Three more deaths have been reported from southern Bhola and Patuakhali districts.

There were so far no official reports of deaths or injuries in the cyclone.

Bangladesh Friday ordered the evacuation of some 2.1 million people from its coastline as the cyclonic storm "Roanu" in the Bay of Bengal was poised to cross the country Saturday.

The danger signal No. 7 has been sounded for all ports in Bangladesh's Chittagong where fishing boats, trawlers and maritime vessels have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.

Source: XINHUA