Nine Killed in Cox’s Bazar Landslides Amid Torrential Rain

At least nine people, including eight Rohingya refugees—mostly women and children—have been killed after a series of devastating landslides triggered by persistent heavy rainfall in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar district.

The separate incidents occurred overnight on Sunday in three Rohingya refugee camps in Ukhiya and in one residential area of Cox’s Bazar town, highlighting the growing danger posed by the monsoon season in one of the country’s most vulnerable regions.

The deadliest incident took place at approximately 1:10 a.m. in Block D/6 of Jamtoli Camp 15 in Palongkhali Union, Ukhiya. A hillside collapsed onto the home of Rohingya refugee Mohammad Kamal Hossain, 44, burying the family beneath tonnes of earth. Rescue workers later recovered the bodies of Kamal Hossain, his wife Humaira Begum, 39, and their four-year-old son, Mohammad Anas.

Dollar Tripura, an official from the Ukhiya Fire Service and Civil Defence Station, confirmed that emergency crews rushed to the scene after receiving reports of the collapse. Three people were found dead, while two others were rescued with injuries and taken for medical treatment.

A second landslide struck at around 1:45 a.m. in Block D/7 of Kutupalong Camp 7 under Rajapalong Union. Seven-year-old Ekram, the son of Mohammad Rashid, was killed after being buried beneath a torrent of mud. Enayet Ullah, a community leader within the refugee camp, said Rohingya volunteers recovered the child’s body shortly after the collapse.

Hours later, at about 3:00 a.m., another landslide hit Block C/11 of Balukhali Camp 11 in Ukhiya. Four more Rohingya refugees, including women and young children, lost their lives. The victims were identified as Umme Habiba, 27, daughter of Abdur Razzaq; her younger sister Tanzina Akter, 13; Mohammad Rihan, aged five; and his three-year-old brother Harunur Rashid, both sons of Mohammad Rashid. One additional person sustained injuries during the incident.

Officials said the continuous rainfall had significantly weakened the unstable slopes surrounding the refugee settlements, many of which are densely populated and built on or near hilly terrain. Every monsoon season, these camps face heightened risks of landslides, flooding and erosion due to fragile soil conditions and overcrowded living arrangements.

The Ukhiya Upazila administration said public announcements have been made repeatedly through loudspeakers, urging residents in high-risk areas to move to safer locations. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Panna Akter warned that the threat of further landslides remains high and appealed to residents to follow official safety instructions and evacuate whenever advised.

In a separate incident, one person was killed in Cox’s Bazar town after another hillside collapsed in the Chattar Ghona area of Ward No. 12 at around 4:00 a.m. on Monday. Three members of the same family became trapped beneath the debris before local residents managed to rescue them. Ali Akbar was critically injured and rushed to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital, where doctors later declared him dead.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that more than 150 millimetres of rainfall had been recorded in Cox’s Bazar over the previous 24 hours. According to Assistant Meteorologist Md Abdul Hannan, the downpour has been caused by a well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal combined with an active monsoon system. Weather officials have warned that heavy rainfall is likely to continue for at least the next two days, raising concerns over further landslides and flash flooding across the district.

The latest fatalities underscore the recurring dangers faced by communities living in landslide-prone areas during Bangladesh’s monsoon season, particularly within the Rohingya refugee camps, where difficult terrain and densely packed shelters leave thousands exposed to extreme weather hazards.