Bangladesh relocates Rohingya after deadly landslide

Bangladesh relocates Rohingya refugees after landslide kills at least 5 children

8 reported

Authorities in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh used loudspeakers and a network of volunteers and community leaders to relocate people from risky areas to safety Thursday after landslides killed at least 13 refugees in the past few days. At least five children died Wednesday when a landslide caused by monsoon rains swept through an Islamic school at a camp in Cox's Bazar, where more than 1 million Rohingya refugees from neighboring Myanmar live. A teacher at the Islamic school described the scene as chaotic, saying girls were preparing for lessons when part of the building collapsed. People in the refugee camp started rescue operations before emergency services reached the scene, according to the head of the local fire service and civil defense. Authorities in Cox’s Bazar said they were relocating refugees from at-risk hilly areas and that more than 1,000 people were already evacuated. The Bangladesh weather office is forecasting more rain in the coming days.

What’s reported

At least five children died Wednesday when a landslide caused by monsoon rains swept through an Islamic school at a Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar.

At least 13 refugees have been killed by landslides in the past few days.

A teacher named Begum Jahan said girls were preparing for lessons when part of the building collapsed, and those on the eastern side were buried under debris.

Dollar Tripura, head of the local fire service and civil defense, said people started rescue operations before emergency services arrived, and the rescue operation was called off Wednesday evening.

Authorities in Cox’s Bazar said more than 1,000 people were already evacuated from at-risk hilly areas.

The Bangladesh weather office is forecasting more rain in the coming days.

Sunday night into Monday, landslides killed at least eight people at Rohingya camps in the area.

Local media reported at least 22 people died in the delta nation in landslides and wall collapses over the last three days, including the casualties at Rohingya camps.