Six killed in landslides in Cox’s Bazar

At least six people, including three Rohingyas, lost their lives in separate landslides in Sadar upazila and a Rohingya camp in Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar early Friday.

In the Sadar upazila, three members of the same family were killed in South Dikkul area under Jhilongja union, while in the Ukhiya upazila, three members of another family died at the Hatikumrul-14 Rohingya camp.

The tragic incidents occurred late Thursday night and in the early hours of Friday. Giyas Uddin Zhiku, former chairman of Jhilongja Union Parishad, said they heard the sound of a landslide near Mizanur Rahman's house during heavy rainfall. Upon reaching the site, they discovered Mizan's family had been buried under the landslide. Mizan was rescued alive at around 3 AM, while the bodies of his wife and children were recovered with the help of locals.

The victims were identified as Akhi Moni, 21, wife of Mizanur Rahman, and their two children, Miha Jinnat, 5, and Latifa Islam, 1. Cox's Bazar Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Nilufa Yasmin Chowdhury, visited the site and provided Tk 75,000 in financial assistance to the affected family.

In another incident, continuous heavy rainfall caused three residential houses to be destroyed by a landslide in Hakim Para Rohingya Camp No. 14 in Ukhiya upazila, resulting in the deaths of three brothers from the same family, according to Mohammad Samsud Douza Nayan, Additional Commissioner of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission. The deceased were Abdur Rahim, Abdul Hafeez, and Abdul Waheed, sons of Kabir Ahmed of E-2 block in the camp.

Cox’s Bazar Meteorological Office assistant meteorologist Abdul Hannan reported that the area recorded 401 mm of rainfall in 27 hours from 6 AM Thursday to 9 AM Friday, marking the highest single-day rainfall of the season.