Amid severe rainfall and subsequent flooding, at least 51 people have been killed in Bangladesh over the course of a few days. Local authorities have reported that more than one million people are affected by the floodwaters. Flash floods and landslides have devastated large parts of the country, including the capital, Dhaka, causing thousands of residents to lose their homes.
Cox’s Bazar has been particularly hard-hit, accounting for more than half of the fatalities. This region has a significant population of Rohingya refugees. Bangladesh is accustomed to suffering from heavy monsoon rains, but experts warn that climate change is causing precipitation to become both more frequent and more intense.
The severe weather began more than a week ago. Given the worsening situation, authorities had issued flood and landslide warnings, evacuated families from vulnerable areas, and postponed examinations. Currently, thousands of people are housed in emergency shelters.
