A devastating landslide struck a girls’ school inside a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, killing eight people, including seven students and one teacher.
The incident happened on Wednesday afternoon when heavy mud and debris buried an Islamic study centre located in the refugee settlement. Rescue teams rushed to the area and searched through the mud to find survivors.
Officials said rescuers recovered 13 people from the collapsed school structure. Eight victims died, while five children were taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
Local officials said some of the children killed in the disaster were between seven and 12 years old.
Heavy Monsoon Rains Trigger Deadly Landslides
Bangladesh has experienced continuous monsoon rainfall since Sunday, causing several landslides and floods across Cox’s Bazar.
Authorities reported that other landslides in the area also killed at least eight Rohingya refugees, including five children.
The ongoing rain has increased risks for thousands of families living in temporary shelters across the refugee settlement. Officials have warned residents in dangerous areas and started moving some families to safer locations.
Rohingya Refugees Face Dangerous Living Conditions
Cox’s Bazar is home to more than one million Rohingya refugees, making it the largest refugee settlement in the world.
Most Rohingya families moved to Bangladesh after a military crackdown in Myanmar in 2017 forced more than 700,000 people to flee across the border.
Many Rohingya refugees still live in fragile shelters made from bamboo and plastic sheets. These homes are often built on steep hillsides, where heavy rainfall can quickly cause landslides.
The Rohingya community, which is mainly Muslim, has faced long-term challenges, including restrictions on citizenship and basic rights in Myanmar.
Rescue Efforts Continue as More Rain Forecast
Rescue workers, local authorities, and volunteers joined efforts to search for victims after the landslide. Many people gathered near the damaged school and helped remove mud by hand.
Weather officials have predicted more rainfall in the coming days. Authorities have issued warnings about possible landslides and flooding in high-risk areas.
The latest disaster highlights the growing dangers faced by refugees living in vulnerable locations during the monsoon season.
