Storm kills at least 23 in Bangladesh

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DHAKA, Bangladesh, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- A tropical storm from the Bay of Bengal roared into Bangladesh, killing at least 23 people, injuring dozens more and causing heavy damage, officials said.

Thousands of people were left homeless and had to take shelter in schools and other structures, CNN reported.

The Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha news agency said the storm Thursday struck the southeast coastal areas in Noakhali, Bhola, Hatiya, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Swandip and nearby islands. The report said 12 of the people killed were in the Noakhali area, seven in Bhola and four in Chittagong.

Officials said more than 1,000 fishermen who had gone fishing in the deep sea had been reported missing and communications in the affected districts remained disrupted, CNN reported.

The BSS news agency said the storm destroyed more than 2,000 thatched homes as well as mosques and educational institutions. The storm uprooted scores of trees.

One district official told the BSS about 50 fishing trawlers had capsized.

Bangladesh's Daily Star reported the storm, which started as a depression and quickly gained strength into a tropical storm, ravaged the region for more than 4 hours early Thursday.

Some cattle were lost and about 2,500 acres of crops were damaged.

CNN said thousands of people were left homeless and had to take shelter in schools and other structures.