Fireman and Rescue unit removing remains of victims due to landslides. Image courtesy: Reuters
The heavy southwest monsoonal rain pouring over the past three days in Southern Bangladesh has triggered landslides in the area claiming at least 50 lives and leave another 150,000 stranded. Evacuation and rescue effort are still progressing. It is reported that the remain of at least 30 adults and several children has been discovered as of today. The area that was affected by the slides was the hill region of Chittagong, Cox Bazar district and Bandarban district. The area is located at least 248km from the capital city of Bangladesh, Dhaka.
Radar Imagery for Cox Bazar, area that was affected by heavy rain and landslides. Image Courtesy: Bangladesh Meteorological Department
Over 400mm of rainfall was recorded at Chittagong for a duration of 12 hours and the Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport was temporarily shut down due to flood waters. Railway services was interrupted as well after one of the railway bridge connecting Chittagong with the rest of the country collapsed due to gushing flood water. Attached on the site was the radar imagery for the city of Cox’s Bazar as of 0900UTC 26 June 2012.
The following weather warning was posted by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department:
“DUE TO STRONG MONSOON STEEP PRESSURE GRADIENT PERSISTS OVER NORTH BAY AND ADJOINING AREA. SQUALLY WEAHTER MAY AFFECT NORTH BAY, ADJOINING COASTAL AREA AND THE MARITIME PORTS.
MARITIME PORTS OF CHITTAGONG, COX’S BAZAR AND MONGLA HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO KEEP HOISTED LOCAL CAUTIONARY SIGNAL NO. THREE (R) THREE.
ALL FISHING BOATS AND TRAWLERS OVER NORTH BAY HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO REMAIN CLOSED TO THE COAST AND PROCEED WITH CAUTION TILL FURTHER NOTICE.”
WestPac Wx SE Asia Caster ~Francis~
