TDS Desk:

Tidal surges have severely damaged at least 11 hotels and resorts in St Martin’s island, flooded large areas, and created cracks at 10 points on the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive.

The damages are unprecedented in the island’s history, said locals and the Union Parishad Chairman Foyezul Islam, implying the effects of climate change.

Since Friday, tides rose by at least four-five feet above average in the morning and evening, submerging large parts of the coastal areas in Cox’s Bazar. St Martin and Kutubdia of Cox’s Bazar and Moheshkhali of Chattogram are among the areas affected.

Three days ago, the weather office issued the Cautionary Signal No 3 in the coastal areas warning of the formation of a low pressure in the Bay of Bengal. Maritime communication with St Martin have remained suspended for about five days due to the inclement weather.

A number of trees have been uprooted, while farmlands have suffered extensive damages, said the Department of Environment’s employee Mohammad Aziz on Saturday.

On the other hand, three kilometres of the Marine Drive have been rendered unusable due to cracks caused by tidal surges since Friday. Locals have reiterated their demanded for the construction of a permanent protections dam along the crucial road to prevent future crisis.