A family lives under the open sky after their home was devastated by a storm at Bakerganj, south west of the Bangladesh capital Dhaka, Nov. 17, 2007.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    DHAKA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Deadly cyclone Sidr that ripped through Bangladesh's coastal district last Thursday night so far killed 2407, a spokesman for the Disaster Ministry said Monday.

    A bulletin of the Disaster Ministry put the death toll at 2407 till 12 noon Monday.

    As the time passes on, horrifying stories of deaths and destruction continued unfolding.

    Bangladesh Red Crescent Society that deployed 42,000 volunteers in the cyclone-hit 15 southern and southwestern coastal districts said the death toll might cross 10,000.

    More than 3.1 million people in 28 out of the country's 64 districts came under the fury of the cyclone, which slammed the coast from the Bay of Bengal with terrifying wind speeds of up to 240 km per hour.

    World leaders offered condolence and sympathies for the cyclone victims while donor agencies and volunteer organizations continued sending emergency relief for the survivors.

    Donor countries and agencies so far pledged over 30 million U.S. dollars as emergency assistance to support the Bangladesh government initiatives to carrying out relief and post-cyclone rehabilitation programs.

    The cyclonic storm Sidr, was one of the fiercest cyclones that had hit the region of Bangladesh in the 131 years between 1876 and 2007.

A family surveys the remains of their home after it was destroyed by the cyclone in Bakerganj, 340 km (211 miles) southwest of Dhaka, Nov. 17, 2007.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>