Relentless heavy rainfall in Bangladesh has caused deadly floods and landslides in the south-eastern districts of Cox’s Bazar and neighbouring Bandarban.
According to Reuters, a local police official confirmed that at least 23 people have been killed after further bodies had been recovered from a river on Sunday 28 June. Xinhua, the Chinese news agency, report that the figure is 21 people. More victims are thought to be still missing. Around 35 people have been reported injured.
Rainfall Figures
The heavy rain began on Wednesday 24 June 2015, when, according to WMO figures, 210 mm of rain fell in Cox’s Bazar and 135 mm in Barisal in 24 hours. The rain has continued to fall over the last few days. According to NOAA figures, Cox’s Bazar saw 321 mm of rain fall on 25 June and 238 mm the next day.
Jessore received 97 mm between 27 and 28 June. Dhaka (68.3 mm) and Barisal (59.4 mm) saw heavy rain between 26 and 27 June.
Weather and Landslide Warnings
Yesterday afternoon Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) issued further warnings for heavy rain and landslides, for south-eastern areas but also areas around the capital, Dhaka.
“Due to active monsoon over Bangladesh, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at places over Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal, Rajshahi, and Chittagong divisions during next 24 hours commencing 16:00 hours, 27 June 2015.
Landslide may occur at places over the hilly regions of Chittagong division”.
Record River Levels
The Matamuhuri at Chiringa in Cox’s Bazar district stood at record levels between 25 and 26 June when it reached 7.40 metres, beating the previous record of 7.03 metres, according to the The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB).
The forecasting centre also say that levels are now falling, but still stand at 6.18 metres, above the danger mark of 5.75 metres.
Earlier today, 28 June, the forecasting centre said
“the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and the Surma-Kushiyara river systems are in falling trend which may like to continue in next 48 hours.
The Ganges-Padma are in rising trend which may start to fall in next 24 hours.”
