Severe cyclone kills 150 in Bangladesh: officials

A powerful cyclone smashed into Bangladesh killing more than 150 people as it uprooted trees, destroyed homes and forced tens of thousands to flee for their lives, officials said Friday.

The eye of cyclone Sidr, shown in satellite images as a huge swirling white mass moving in from the Bay of Bengal, hit land Thursday night before sweeping north towards the capital Dhaka.

"We have been told by police that over 150 people died in the cyclone," Major Emdadul Islam of the army control room was quoted by AFP as saying.

Most deaths were caused by trees crushing flimsy homes made of bamboo and tin, said police.