Five members of two families, including a child, were killed in two separate landslides triggered by heavy rainfall in Lama upazila of Bandarban early today, police said.
The incidents occurred in Mission Para (Paglir Jhiri) of Aziznagar union between 2:00am and 4:00am today.
Lama Police Station Officer-in-Charge Kaysar Hamid told The Daily Star that the first landslide struck between 2:00am and 2:30am, killing a husband and wife.
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Photo: Mong Sing Hai Marma
About an hour and a half later, another landslide hit the same area, burying three members of another family -- a husband, wife and their young son.
The deceased were identified as Md Yunus, 40, his wife Ranu Akter, 35, and their five-year-old son Md Soleman. The other victims were Md Jewel, 34, and his wife Kulsuma Akter, 25.
Acting Chairman of Aziznagar Union Parishad Mobarak Hossain confirmed the deaths, saying the victims were buried under the debris when the hillsides collapsed following continuous rainfall.
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Photo: Mong Sing Hai Marma
According to police and local residents, people rushed to the scene after hearing cries for help in the early hours. Members of the fire service and police later conducted rescue operations and recovered the bodies from the two sites.
Bandarban Superintendent of Police Md Wahabul Islam Khandaker said the bodies had been recovered and legal procedures were underway.
Meanwhile, continuous rainfall has heightened the risk of further landslides across Lama and other parts of Bandarban. Flooding has spread to new areas, disrupting daily life and road communication.
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Photo: Mong Sing Hai Marma
Although the district administration has urged residents living in landslide-prone areas to move to safer shelters, many are still reluctant to leave their homes.
Heavy rain has also disrupted road connectivity and mobile network services in different upazilas of the district.
Last night, landslides also struck Barua Para in Kalaghata under Ward No. 3 of Bandarban Sadar union. No casualties were reported.
