Landslides, floods kill 106 in southern Bangladesh

[Imran Khan]

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Landslides, floods kill 106 in southern Bangladesh










A Bangladeshi woman, left, whose relative died in a landslide is consoled by another on the outskirts of Chittagong, Bangladesh, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. Rescuers said landslides caused by heavy monsoon rains have killed at least 30 people in southern Bangladesh. A Bangladeshi woman, left, whose relative died in a landslide is consoled by another on the outskirts of Chittagong, Bangladesh, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. Rescuers said landslides caused by heavy monsoon rains have killed at least 30 people in southern Bangladesh. (AP Photo/Anrup Titu)
By Farid Hossain
Associated Press / June 28, 2012


DHAKA, Bangladesh—Searchers pulled out 15 bodies Thursday that had buried under mud and debris after landslides and floods caused by monsoon rains in southern Bangladesh, raising the toll to 106 deaths this week.

The landslides occurred mainly in remote villages with poor roads, making rescue work more difficult, and the flooding was disrupting communications. About 500 houses were washed away. More people may be missing, but officials said they don't know how many. Soldiers joined the search for the missing in three hard-hit districts and found 15 victims Thursday.

At least 41 died in Cox's Bazar, 41 in neighboring Bandarban and another 24 in Chittagong, mostly in landslides, the Disaster Management Ministry said.

Three days of torrential rain in the region of small hills and forests dislodged huge chunks of earth, which buried flimsy huts where families were sleeping late Tuesday and early Wednesday.

In Bandarban, 11-year-old Rafiqul Islam was the only survivor in his family because he was visiting another relative when mud buried his hut. His parents and three siblings died.

"The rain had kept me from returning home," the boy told The Associated Press.

Monsoon floods are common in Bangladesh, a delta nation of 160 million people.

Volunteers using loudspeakers warned people about the danger of landslides during the rains, said Jaynul Bari, a government administrator in Cox's Bazar.

Flood waters covered many roads and washed away a railway bridge, snapping road and rail links between Dhaka and the three districts. An airport in Chittagong was closed after floodwaters swamped its runway, but reopened Wednesday.

The government said relief workers were distributing rice and water to hundreds of displaced people.

Officials: 95 dead after heavy rain, floods in Bangladesh
By Farid Ahmed, CNN
June 28, 2012 -- Updated 0141 GMT (0941 HKT)
A woman mourns relatives killed in a landslide in Chittagong, Bangladesh, on Wednesday.
A woman mourns relatives killed in a landslide in Chittagong, Bangladesh, on Wednesday.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS

As many as 95 people have been killed, officials say
The flooding has cut the region off from the rest of the country
Runways are under water at the Shah Amanat International Airport

Dhaka, Bangladesh (CNN) -- Rescue crews were frantically trying to find survivors possibly buried in debris Wednesday after heavy rain and floods washed through southeastern Bangladesh in the past few days, killing 95 people, police and local officials said.

Most of the victims died in landslides caused by torrential rains and flash floods in the port city of Chittagong, the tourist destination of Cox's Bazar and the hilly Bandarban district.

"We've recovered 95 bodies so far, and the death toll may go up as many people, as claimed by the relatives, are still missing," Divisional Commissioner of Chittagong Mohammad Serajul Huq Khan said.

Khan, who serves as the administrative chief of all districts in Chittagong region, said rescuers from the army, police and fire services are assisting in the operations, which were taking place in many of the affected areas.

"Most of the people died in landslides, while drowning and lightning were the other causes of death," Khan said. "At least 37 died in Cox's Bazar, 36 in Bandarban and 22 in Chittagong city."

Local officials said the flooding cut off the region from the rest of the country, shutting down roads, rail and air routes and communications.

Chittagong's Shah Amanat International Airport, one of three international airports in the country, was closed as floodwaters submerged the runway Tuesday.

Airport manager Rabiul Islam said all flights were diverted to Dhaka as the runway was still inundated.

Tens of thousands of people in the districts were either stranded or displaced, officials said.

"We're marooned even in the city. ... Most of the roads are under water, and in some places, it is waist-deep," said Abdul Momen, a businessman in Chittagong.

Aslam Alam, secretary of the Disaster Management and Relief Division of the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management, said in Dhaka that many people were evacuated and the government was sending food relief to the affected areas.

Crews were trying to restore communications to the region, Alam added.

In 2007, at least 126 people were killed in a landslide in Chittagong.

Officials: 95 dead after heavy rain, floods in Bangladesh - CNN.com

[Imran Khan]

[PlanetSoldier]

It's nice to see that such events have no infuence on our politicos, they are as usual with their full teeth smile ....nothing bothers them other than power and money.

[kobiraaz]

Very Sad considering a BNP person is Mayor in Chittagong! Why has he failed? Govt. not allocating enough money for him or He is not worthy of the Job?

[Shardul.....the lion]

RIP to dead

Politicians are politicians, they are least concerned for common citizens.

[Imran Khan]

[Avisheik]

Very Sad considering a BNP person is Mayor in Chittagong! Why has he failed? Govt. not allocating enough money for him or He is not worthy of the Job?

some of these people were illegally cutting hills and setting up their homes. They were told to move out a month from this incident(check daily star archive), but they didnt listen

[cloud_9]

I think there's still more to come because apparently Brahmputra has flooded Assam.

[kalu_miah]

some of these people were illegally cutting hills and setting up their homes. They were told to move out a month from this incident(check daily star archive), but they didnt listen

Its a common problem in many countries, landslides happen suddenly and silently without warning. Deforestation or lack of trees make the hills unstable. Excessive rain fills their water holding capacity and finally pushes them over top causing landslides. You cannot build or live near such unstable hills. Sadly in a poor country like Bangladesh, there are people who are unable to ensure their own safety and govt. which is inept to remove them before disaster happens.

My heart goes out towards the victims. Authorities need to do more to ensure safety of people, specially civil engineers sitting in posh air conditioned offices of the city or municipality.

[PlanetSoldier]

Its a common problem in many countries, landslides happen suddenly and silently without warning. Deforestation or lack of trees make the hills unstable. Excessive rain fills their water holding capacity and finally pushes them over top causing landslides. You cannot build or live near such unstable hills. Sadly in a poor country like Bangladesh, there are people who are unable to ensure their own safety and govt. which is inept to remove them before disaster happens.

My heart goes out towards the victims. Authorities need to do more to ensure safety of people, specially civil engineers sitting in posh air conditioned offices of the city or municipality.

Look at newspapers archive..they've long been warning on the random cutting of hills. Local leaders are involved in destroying hills and forests with their endless hunger.

[iajdani]

Look at newspapers archive..they've long been warning on the random cutting of hills. Local leaders are involved in destroying hills and forests with their endless hunger.

There is nothing wrong in cutting hills. Hills are not endangered animal but if you look from Google Earth, the hill stretches from Chittagong to middle of China. If we cut few hills and make room for the people who are in need will not cause the end of world. The earth could be used for better purpose like roads, bricks and other valued added items.

[Avisheik]

There is nothing wrong in cutting hills. Hills are not endangered animal but if you look from Google Earth, the hill stretches from Chittagong to middle of China. If we cut few hills and make room for the people who are in need will not cause the end of world. The earth could be used for better purpose like roads, bricks and other valued added items.

The hills were not cut because they can be used to make these things. They were cut and occupied and rented out by people with vested interest.

Slum dwellers at Yasin Colony in the port city yesterday clashed with police when the latter, fearing further landslides, tried to evict people from the hill slope.

Six people died here on Tuesday in a landslide resulting from heavy rains. The rescue operation that began that night was officially declared closed yesterday morning at 9:00am.

Idris Ali, father of Yasin, "owner of the slum", and his three sons Shahjahan, Selim and Masud along with some others attacked two staff of the Chittagong City Corporation around 10:30am when the duo on a loud speaker were asking the residents of the area to evacuate the place, Councillor Abdus Sattar Selim said.

Officials of the local administration rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Sixty-year-old Idris Ali was arrested and a case was filed with Khulshi Police Station in connection with the attack, Sub-Inspector Shafiqul Islam said.

The deputy commissioner of Chittagong had instructed the people of the area to leave the hill slope with their belongings within 48 hours.

Some influential people, in their vested interest, persuaded the slum dwellers to stay there, even after the deaths in Tuesday's landslide, and resist the law enforcers who were carrying out the eviction drive at Yasin Colony under Khulshi Police Station, local people said.

Yasin went into hiding after the mudslides in the colony, said police.

Idris, Yasin and their accomplices have been occupying the piece of railway land since the present government assumed power, Councillor Selim said.

Blessed by a lawmaker of the ruling Awami League from Chittagong and president of AL ward-9 unit SM Alamgir, they built some tin-shed houses there and rented them out, Selim said.

SM Alamgir told The Daily Star that Yasin was the general secretary of local pro-AL youth body Juba League and that being a president of an AL unit he had good relations with Yasin.

Defending the slum dwellers' action against the eviction, Alamgir, also a former ward councillor, said, "If the slum people are evicted without rehabilitation, where will they go?"

Police cordoned off the colony and were not allowing anybody in the area, said Abdul Latif, officer-in-charge of the police station. The residents have now taken shelter in makeshift camps and adjoining schools and buildings.

THis is nothing but f@#king greed.

[Luffy 500]

There is nothing wrong in cutting hills. Hills are not endangered animal but if you look from Google Earth, the hill stretches from Chittagong to middle of China. If we cut few hills and make room for the people who are in need will not cause the end of world. The earth could be used for better purpose like roads, bricks and other valued added items.

There are special ways and techniques to cutting hills while we cut hills left and right.And who told you hills don't support biodiversity. The hills in chitagong are literally barren with no trees to hold the soil together due to deforestation. People's negligence and greed of politicians cause this catastrophe.

[Apóllōn]

Floods happen year after year in Bangladesh and hundreds die. Government announces relief packages and nothing happens after that and poor people pay the price.

[BLACKEAGLE]

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RIP to the victims and their bereaved families, Allah yer7amhom waisaber ahlhom.