Home ›› 29 Jul 2021 ›› Governance
At least 14 people have died in separate landslide incidents in Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf and Maheshkhali upazilas in the last two days.
In the early hours of Wednesday, six people, including five of a family, were killed in a landslide in Vilejar area of Hneela union in Teknaf.
The victims were identified as Shukkur, Jubayer, Abdur Rahim, Kohinur and Jainba, sons and daughters of Syed Alam, a resident of Pahari Gram Vilejar Para of No 4 ward in Hneela union.
The other victim was identified as Rakim Ali of Whykong union.
Hneela Union Parishad Chairman Rasheed Mahmood Ali said the family members died as the hill next to the house collapsed and buried them underneath.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Parvez Chowdhury said they have been using loudspeakers in several areas of the district asking people to evacuate landslide-prone areas.
Confirming the matter, Teknaf police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Hafizur Rahman said Teknaf police were at the scene to investigate the matter.
Meanwhile, on the same day, Morsheda Begum of North Sepahir Para of Maheshkhali’s upzila’s Chhota Maheshkhali union and Ali Hossain of Rajuar Ghona area of Whykong union died in a landslide incident.
Maheshkhali police station OC Abdul Hai confirmed the matter to The Business Post.
Earlier on Tuesday, six people were killed in a landslide at a Rohingyas camp of Ukhia, Cox’s Bazar.
Five Rohingyas, including three children, were buried alive after parts of a hill crumbled down on their bamboo-and-tarpaulin made shanties in Balukhali camp, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Shah Rezwan Hayat confirmed.
Another Rohingya child died after he drowned in a stream in the nearby Palongkhali refugee camp, the official said, adding that all streams in the camps were overflowing due to flash floods.
UN refugee agency UNHCR Spokesperson Hannah Macdonald said over 2,500 shelters housing over 12,000 refugees have been affected by incidents of soil erosion and landslides, flooding, strong winds and storms.
More than 5,000 refugees have been forced to temporarily relocate due to shelter damage and have sought shelter in community facilities or with other families.
“We are also aware of damage to facilities, including health centres and shelter material storage,” the UNHCR spokesperson added.
