SITTWAY, Myanmar -- Myanmar's Meteorology and Hydrology Department announced Thursday night that the country's western Rakhine state has been free from danger of cyclone storm as "Mahasen" fizzled out after hitting Bangladesh coast when it crossed near Chittagong.

It was moving northeastwards and weakened into a tropical storm, according to observation.

No casualties occurred in the state but "Mahasen" caused strong wind and scattered rain the whole Thursday, the Rakhine regional government said.

Nearly 70,000 local people in the state were evacuated to safer places as of Wednesday to avoid possible danger of the cyclone strike.