Image copyright AP Image caption Cyclone Roanu unleashed heavy rain and strong winds

Cyclone Roanu has pounded coastal areas of Bangladesh, forcing half a million people to flee their homes and leaving at least 24 dead.

It made landfall at noon local time (06:00 GMT) on Saturday, causing floods, landslides and submerging homes.

The storm system has since weakened but heavy rainfall is continuing.

Low-lying Bangladesh is especially vulnerable to flooding and has seen frequent deadly cyclones.

The authorities took over 500,000 people into shelters as Roanu hit.

Among those who died were a mother and daughter who were killed in a landslide in southern Chittagong district, which bore the brunt of the storm, AFP reported.

Several ports have been closed and power lines are down across the country.

The full extent of the damage is not expected to be known until Sunday.

Image copyright EPA Image caption Southern Chittagong district was worst hit

Image copyright AFP Image caption Homes have been submerged or destroyed in landslides