The Cox’s Bazar district administration today announced 36 buildings and structures as cyclone shelters on St Martin’s Island.

We will use those structures including government buildings and private hotels in any emergencies, said Bibhishan Kanti Das, additional deputy commissioner (general) of Cox’s Bazar.

We will take decisions based upon the situation, he said.

We have already asked the businessmen of the island to store necessary goods including food for at least seven days so that if the district lost connectivity with the mainland, they can survive till help arrives, Bibhishan, the spokesperson regarding the cyclone preparedness committee said.

St Martin, the island in the Bay of Bengal under Teknaf upazila in Cox’s Bazar is around nine kilometres away from the mainland.

The island, which is on the path of cyclone Mocha, is inhabited by 10 thousand people.