DHAKA, Sept 20: Tidal surge triggered by the depression inundated low-lying areas at Sandwip in Chittagong and forced over 6,000 people to take shelter at local cyclone centres in the past two days, the Red Crescent officials and police said in Chittagong.

However, AFP quoted some officials as saying that 12,000 people had taken refuge in the protection centres.

Many areas in the island were submerged due to flooding caused by the depression, which had crossed over an Indian island.

Golam Rabbani, local chief of the Red Crescent, said the tidal wave had damaged hundreds of houses.

Water easily entered the island through the breaches of the protection embankment after the sea became rough with heavy tidal wave due to the depression, Mr Rabbani said, adding that the affected people had no way but to take shelter at the cyclone centres.

Tidal wave of 3-4 feet high than normal also inundated some places at Anwara and Banshkhali coastal areas causing sufferings to the local people, he added, saying that the situation might improve with the recession of seawater from the affected areas.