CHITTAGONG: Two weeks of relentless torrential rains have left a trail of destruction in southeast Bangladesh, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 55 lives and affecting over a million people through floods and landslides, as announced by officials on Sunday.
Four districts bore the brunt of the catastrophe, with Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Bandarban, and Rangamati experiencing a grim toll. Cox’s Bazar suffered 21 casualties, Chittagong reported 19 deaths, Bandarban confirmed 10 fatalities, and Rangamati mourned the loss of five lives.
These incessant rains, some of the most severe witnessed in recent years, have led to flash floods and landslides, causing rivers to breach their banks and inundating countless villages. The enormity of the disaster made it difficult to assess the extent of the casualties until floodwaters started to recede.
Climate Change Impacts on Bangladesh
The region, which heavily depends on the summer monsoon for about 80% of its yearly rainfall, has experienced increased risks associated with flooding and landslides due to climate change. The monsoon, characterized by its unpredictability and varying intensity, has been growing stronger and more erratic, while deforestation and construction on hillsides have exacerbated flash flood occurrences.
Cox’s Bazar, home to around 600,000 people, grappled with the crisis, particularly impacting the Rohingya refugee camps housing approximately one million Rohingya who had fled a military crackdown in Myanmar.
In Chittagong, the country’s second-largest city and a crucial port, devastating floods submerged hundreds of villages, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and homes. Around 450,000 people in the region have been affected, and at least 19 lives were claimed by the floods.
Bandarban and Rangamati, both hill districts, also faced severe challenges. A flash flood triggered by the incessant rains claimed 10 lives in Bandarban, while heavy downpours left five dead in Rangamati and isolated approximately 23,000 people.
