Story highlights Authorities say that 1,000,000 are being evacuated

Airports, ports closed; leave canceled for doctors, nurses

Dhaka, Bangladesh (CNN) Bangladesh has moved to evacuate nearly one million people from low-lying areas as a powerful tropical cyclone pounds the country's southern coastline.

At least six people have died since the cyclone, dubbed Mora, made landfall early Tuesday morning between the cities of Chittagong and Cox's Bazar and is heading north, authorities in the capital Dhaka said.

Most of those killed were struck by fallen trees, Khalid Mahmood, a director at Disaster Management Department, told CNN. He added that no more deaths were expected as the worst had passed.

Residents were seeking shelter in schools and other safe buildings in 17 coastal districts, said Abu Syed Mohammad Hashim, acting director general of the department. Officials have organized 3,800 relief centers ahead of the storm and airports and ports were shut in the worst affected areas.

Medical teams have been formed and doctors and nurses have had their leave requests canceled in anticipation of the storm's landfall, according to Bangladeshi state media. Hashim told the state-run news agency BSS that rescue teams comprised of members of the armed forces and other agencies were also on standby.

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