Bangladesh – 42 Dead After Floods in 16 Districts

The European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) has reported that over 3.2 million people have been affected by flooding in Bangladesh.

Flooding has been reported in 16 districts: Bogra, Faridpur, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Kurigram, Kustia, Lalmonirhat, Madaripur, Manikganj, Nilphamary, Rajbari, Rangpur, Shariatpur, Sirajgonj, Sunamgonj and Tangail.

ECHO, quoting figures from local health and disaster management officials, say that over 250,000 houses have been fully or partially damaged and more than 25,000 people are displaced. They add that 38 people have drowned and four were killed from snake bites due to flooding since 25 July, 2016.

Road closures and flooding of railway tracks has hampered access to flooded areas. ECHO Partners and local NGOs have already initiated emergency response in some of the most affected districts.

The worst of the flooding had initially affected districts in the north, where the flood situation appears to have eased over the last few days. However, severe flooding is now affecting central and southern districts, in particular Madaripur, Manikganj, Sariatpur and the Dhaka capital region.

Bangladesh Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) says that the Buriganga, Turag, Balu, Lakhya rivers around Dhaka City are in a rising trend, which is likely to continue over the next 24 hours.

The FFWC also reports that levels of the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and Surma-Kushiyara are falling and Ganges-Padma rivers are steady.

Featured photo: Bangladesh Department of Disaster Management

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