Bangladesh Floods Kill 51, Over 1 Million Marooned

Floods sweeping Bangladesh for about a week have killed 51 people and marooned more than 1.02 million residents across seven districts, the country’s disaster management ministry reported Sunday.

Deaths occurred between July 6 and Sunday afternoon, a senior official at the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief told Xinhua on condition of anonymity, citing the ministry’s daily disaster situation report. It was the latest count as of Sunday afternoon, the official said.

The report said 267,918 families have been affected in seven of the country’s 64 districts.

The report said heavy seasonal rains set off the floods and accompanying landslides that damaged homes, crops, roads and highways across much of the country.

Authorities have deployed disaster response teams to rescue stranded residents, distribute relief supplies and manage shelters, the ministry said. Nearly 50,000 people are staying in those shelters.

51 dead since July 6; 1.02 million marooned; 267,918 families affected; roughly 50,000 sheltering. — Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief

This is a developing story. Virginia Times will update as information becomes available.