Strong winds and rains batter Bangladesh as Cyclone Remal makes landfall

An intense cyclone smashed into the low-lying coast of Bangladesh on Sunday.

"The severe Cyclone Remal has started crossing the Bangladesh coast," the Director of Bangladesh Meteorological Department said that, adding the raging storm could continue hammering the coast until at least the early hours of Monday morning.

Forecasters predicted gusts of up to 130 kilometers per hour, with heavy rain and winds also lashing neighboring India. Authorities have raised the danger signal to its highest level.