Play store
Floodwaters have begun to recede in Cox’s Bazar after eight consecutive days of heavy rainfall, but the devastation left behind is immense, with at least 32 people confirmed dead due to floods and landslides.
With rainfall easing since Monday night and remaining low into Tuesday morning, submerged areas are gradually emerging. However, authorities warn that the full extent of the damage will only become clear once water levels fully subside.
According to the district administration, 69 of the district’s 71 unions and four out of five were inundated, submerging nearly half of the district total area and leaving over 250,000 people stranded.
The Meteorological Office reported a staggering 823 mm of rainfall between July 4 and 12, underscoring the severity of the condition.
Pekua upazila was the worst-hit, with 95% of its area flooded, followed by Matamuhuri (85%), Chakaria (80%), Kutubdia (65%), and Maheshkhali (50%). Other areas, including Ramu, Sadar, Ukhiya, Teknaf, and Eidgaon, also experienced significant flooding.
Casualties included 13 Rohingya among the 32 killed, with the highest death toll recorded in Ukhiya, where landslides claimed 14 lives. Additional fatalities were reported in Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar sadar, Pekua, Ramu, and other costal areas. One person remains missing.
Preliminary data shows that at least 1,613 houses have been damaged, with Pekua reporting the highest number of affected homes.
The fisheries sector has suffered major losses, estimated at Tk 46.22 crore, with nearly 3,918 fish ponds and 453 shrimp farms damaged across 61 unions. Thousands of tonnes of fishes and shrimp, along with millions and millions fry, have been lost.
Agriculture has also taken a hit, with over 4,200 hectares of cropland—including Aus paddy, Aman seedbeds, betel leaf farms, and vegetables—affected by flooding.
Officials say comprehensive damage assessments and rehabilitation efforts will begin once the floodwaters fully recede, as the district begins the long road to recovery.
