Landslide in Rohingya camp kills three children as floods worsen in southern Bangladesh
Dhaka, July 8
Severe monsoon rains continued to batter southern Bangladesh on Wednesday, triggering a landslide at a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar that killed three children, while widespread flooding inundated low-lying areas and disrupted transport across several districts.
The landslide occurred at a Rohingya refugee camp in Ukhiya Upazila of Cox's Bazar district, home to the world's largest Rohingya refugee settlement, as incessant rainfall continued to lash the region.
"Three children were killed after a landslide buried a madrasa in the Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar amid heavy monsoon rains. Rescue operations are continuing," The Daily Star reported.
The worsening weather has also intensified flooding in the hilly district of Bandarban, where the Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers are flowing above the danger level.
Several low-lying areas have been submerged, while floodwaters have inundated sections of the railway line linking Dhaka, Cox's Bazar, and Chattogram, affecting rail connectivity.
Continuous heavy rainfall and surging mountain torrents have caused the Sangu River and several hill streams in Thanchi Upazila to swell to dangerous levels, raising concerns over further flooding and landslides.
The adverse conditions have also stranded tourists in remote hill areas. As water currents became increasingly hazardous, 37 more tourists were left stranded in Nafakhum, Jinnapara, and Bagher Mukh. Meanwhile, 77 tourists who had been stranded around the Keokradong peak in Ruma Upazila were safely evacuated to Bandarban town with the assistance of the local administration and security forces.
According to local authorities and administrative sources, relentless rainfall since Sunday has pushed the water levels of the Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers well above the danger marks. Smaller mountain streams, waterfalls, and canals have also overflowed, making travel through the hilly terrain extremely risky and complicating ongoing rescue and relief operations.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is a man-made and nature-made tragedy combined. The camps in Cox's Bazar are overcrowded and built on deforested hillsides. Monsoon season every year brings the same deadly cycle. The global community needs to step up relocation and permanent housing plans, not just emergency aid.
Such a sad incident. But we also need to think about the long-term solution. Bangladesh has been very generous hosting Rohingya refugees, but the international community must share the burden. India has sent aid to Bangladesh before, and I hope we continue to help our neighbour in these tough times. 🙏
I feel terrible for those kids and their families. It's alarming that the Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers are above danger levels - that could trigger more landslides. The authorities should evacuate vulnerable areas proactively. Waiting for disasters to strike is not an option when weather warnings are available.
Honestly, the whole Rohingya crisis is a political mess. Myanmar's military is the root cause, and now innocent people die in landslides. It's high time the UN and ASEAN hold Myanmar accountable. Indian diplomacy should push for safe repatriation of Rohingya to Rakhine, but only when conditions are truly safe. 😔
Monsoon season in Bangladesh is brutal. The fact that even tourists got stranded shows how severe this is. 🙏 For the families of the deceased. Also glad to hear that some of the stranded tourists were safely evacuated. The local administration and security forces in Bandarban did a great job.
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