Landslides triggered by heavy rain killed at least nine people, including seven members of two families, at several Rohingya camps in southeastern Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar district early Monday, a senior official said.
Eight of the deaths occurred in Rohingya refugee camps, while one was reported in the Cox’s Bazar municipality, ANM Shajadur Rahman, superintendent of police in Bazar district, told Xinhua.
Many dwellings were also damaged in rain-triggered landslides in the camps, he added.
Over 250 millimeters of rain reportedly fell across the district in the 24 hours ending Monday morning, and the downpour is forecast to last another two days.
The official said authorities are working to evacuate those still living in risky hillsides.
Landslides are frequent in Bangladesh’s hilly areas during the heavy monsoon that usually runs from June to September, as land has been heavily deforested to grow crops and build houses.
