Nine people, including Rohingya women and children, died in four separate landslides in Cox’s Bazar overnight due to continuous heavy rains. Eight of the dead were Rohingya and one local resident. At least five were injured. The Meteorological Office recorded 274 millimeters of rainfall in Cox’s Bazar in the 24 hours until Monday morning. With the forecast of more heavy rainfall due to the influence of a clear low pressure and active monsoon winds in the Bay of Bengal, there is a risk of fresh landslides in the Rohingya camps and hilly areas of the district. The administration, fire service and Rohingya volunteers are working together to evacuate residents from risky areas. Local warning signal number 3 has been issued for the sea ports of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra.

Cox’s Bazar has been receiving intermittent moderate to heavy rain since Sunday morning. It turned into continuous heavy rain in the evening. Late at night, landslides occurred one after another in the Rohingya camp in Ukhiya and Cox’s Bazar town.

The most tragic incident took place at Rohingya Camp No. 11 in Ukhiya. Five members of Abdur Razzak’s family were buried in a landslide at midnight. Hearing their screams, local Rohingyas rushed to the spot and started rescue operations. Later, five people were rescued with the help of the fire service, but Umme Habiba (27), Tanzina Akhtar (13), Mohammad Rihan (5) and Harunur Rashid (3) died. One of the injured has been admitted to the hospital. Several other families in the vicinity were evacuated to safer places after the landslide.

Earlier, at 1:45 am, a Rohingya child named Ekram (7) died after being buried in a landslide in D-7 block of Rohingya camp number 7, Kutupalong, Rajapalong union, Ukhia. Camp boatman Enayet Ullah said that Rohingya volunteers recovered the child’s body after receiving the news.

On the same night, at around 1:10 am, a hill collapsed on Mohammad Kamal Hossain’s house in D-6 block of Jamtali Rohingya Camp No. 15 in Palangkhali Union of Ukhia. Kamal Hossain (44), his wife Humaira Begum (39) and four-year-old son Mohammad Anas were killed. Two more injured were sent to the hospital after a rescue operation of about three hours.

Meanwhile, around 4:30 am on Monday, a landslide destroyed the house of local resident Ali Akbar in Chattarghona area of ​​Ward No. 12 of Cox’s Bazar Municipality. Ali Akbar, his wife and son were buried in the landslide. Locals quickly rescued them and took them to Cox’s Bazar District Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared Ali Akbar dead. The two injured are undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Dollar Tripura, in-charge of Ukhia Fire Service and Civil Defense Station, said, “All the incidents of the night happened in a very short period of time. As soon as the news was received, multiple teams started the rescue work. The bodies were recovered and the injured were sent to the hospital after a night-long operation.”

Mohammad Arafatul Alam, camp-in-charge of Rohingya Camp No. 11, said that several hill slopes in the camp have become extremely risky due to heavy rains. Families at risk are being evacuated to safer places to avoid possible accidents.

After the accident, grief and panic have descended on the Rohingya camp. Hafez Abdus Salam, a resident of Rohingya Camp No. 17, said, “There are landslides in the camp every year. Even then, we are forced to stay here. I came to Bangladesh to save my life. There is nothing I can do even if I die here. Everything is in the hands of Allah. Even if I die back in my own country, at least I would not have suffered that much.”

Sheikh Mohammad Ali, officer-in-charge of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model Police Station, said one person was killed in the landslide in the city. Police have visited the scene and are monitoring the situation.

Ukhia Upazila Executive Officer Panna Akhter said, “For the past few days, the administration has been conducting regular miking in view of the risk of landslides. Everyone has been urged to move to safe shelters.”

Deputy Commissioner Md. Abdul Mannan said, an emergency meeting of the disaster management committee was held on Monday. A few days ago, people were ordered to move to safer places by miking in risky areas in every upazila. Now the work of quickly evacuating people living in risky areas has been intensified. Shelters have been kept ready and the situation is being monitored round the clock.

Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Mizanur Rahman said, “The Rohingyas who have taken refuge in a humanitarian crisis are now also victims of natural disasters. The risk has increased due to the destruction of forests and mountains. The most vulnerable families are being evacuated to less risky areas. Rohingya community leaders, volunteers and related organizations are working together. He said, the long-term solution to this crisis is the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas.”

Cox’s Bazar Forest and Mountain Conservation Council President Deepak Sharma Dipu said that about one lakh people are living in the Rohingya camps and another three lakh people are living on the risky slopes of the mountains in eight upazilas of the district. Although there are demands to evacuate vulnerable people before the monsoon every year, effective initiatives are not seen unless a major accident occurs. At the same time, the risk is increasing as mountain cutting continues throughout the year.

Cox’s Bazar Meteorological Office Government Meteorologist Md. Abdul Hannan said, heavy rainfall is being caused by the influence of a clear low pressure and active monsoon winds in the Bay of Bengal. 274 millimeters of rainfall has been recorded in the last 24 hours. Heavy rains are likely to continue for at least the next two days. Seaports have been asked to display local warning signals. At the same time, he urged those living in hilly areas to be on the highest alert due to the risk of landslides.

According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, at least 36 people have been killed and 84 injured in landslides and avalanches in Rohingya camps since 2021 until July 6 of this year. According to those concerned, this risk is increasing every monsoon due to extreme weather, deforestation and overpopulation on mountain slopes due to the impact of climate change.