The Arakan Army (AA) has evacuated more than 10,000 Arakanese people from 21 villages under its control inRakhine State because of the cycloneMocha, said AA spokesman U Khaing Thukha.

These villages are located near to the sea and some are on islands where tidal waves are apprehended toenter.
 

“Specially 13 villages in Nga Man Ye Kyunt island under Myebon township and 8villages in the south of Minbya township are assumed to face the storm. Some 11867 people have already beenevacuated by AA members,” headded.

AA spokesman Thukha also stated that the evacuation emerges as a priority for saving the lives of peoplefrom the cyclone and the processwill continue for relocating the villagers.

"Our Arakkha People's Government's (Arakanese government) aid & rescue teams are also evacuating people fromthe low-lying areas where the stormmay affect badly. We are also continuing the effort to bring the people to safer places,” he asserted.

Other villagers have been warned to be in alert mode for preventive evacuation.

He also stated that those villages have been taught how to prepare in advance for such disasters.

Flashlights, food items, medicines etc have been distributed among them. They are also made aware of usingthe electrical equipments duringthe storm.

“Some villagers don't prefer to go out of their places and they have been advised to take precautions. Wedistributed life jackets to them. Everyonein Rakhine State needs to be careful as the Mocha may hit the coastal region at any moment,” heexplained.

Mocha may move to the north & northeast in the next few hours and it may reach the center of the Bay ofBengal. Once emerged as severe cyclonicstorm, it may make landfall between  Bangladesh’s Cox's Bazar and Myanmar’s Kyaukphyu on 14 May,stated the Myanmar meteorological andhydrology department.