Cyclone Mahasen strikes southern Bangladesh -Thursday May 16,2013

Cyclone Mahasen was classified as the lowest-level category one on a one-to-five scale and packing winds of up to 88 kilometres (55 miles) per hour at its centre, Shamsuddin Ahmed, deputy chief of Bangladesh Meteorological Department, told

Cyclone Mahasen has begun crossing Bangladesh's southern coast, as people packed into evacuation shelters. 

The storm hit Patuakhali district on Thursday with winds of up to 100km/h (60mph), and was heading for the ports of Chittagong and Cox's Bazar

At least 956,672 people have been evacuated from Bangladesh's coastal areas to more than 3,200 cyclone shelters, the government said on Thursday.

Airports in Chittagong and the resort town of Cox's Bazar have been shut until the danger subsides. Chittagong's port, the busiest in Bangladesh, also remains closed