Authorities in Bangladesh are using loudspeakers and community leaders to relocate Rohingya refugees from at-risk hilly areas to safety following a series of landslides that have killed at least 13 people in recent days. The relocations come as monsoon rains continue to drench the region.
On Wednesday, a landslide caused by the heavy rains swept through an Islamic school in Cox's Bazar, killing at least five children. The school was preparing for lessons when part of the building collapsed, according to a teacher who described the scene as chaotic. Survivors reported broken arms, while others did not survive.
Volunteers and emergency services participated in rescue operations, recovering bodies and assisting the injured. The rescue efforts were concluded by Wednesday evening. Initial reports from volunteers indicated that all those recovered from the immediate landslide site were women, but the full extent of the casualties remained uncertain.
Over 1,000 people have been evacuated from vulnerable locations, though authorities note that refugees are often hesitant to leave their existing shelters despite warnings. The Bangladesh weather office has forecast additional rainfall in the coming days.
These recent fatalities follow earlier landslides that occurred Sunday night into Monday, which claimed at least eight lives within the Rohingya camps. Local media reported a broader toll of at least 22 deaths across Bangladesh over the past three days due to landslides and wall collapses, including those at the refugee camps.
More than 1 million Rohingya refugees, who fled persecution in neighboring Myanmar, reside in the camps in Cox's Bazar. Bangladesh has repeatedly appealed to the international community for assistance with the repatriation process, which remains stalled.