The death toll from a landslide at a madrasa inside Rohingya Camp-5 in Ukhiya, Cox's Bazar, has risen to eight, while 14 others were rescued alive, officials said on Wednesday.
The landslide struck around 2:00 pm at the Masjidul Quba Women's Madrasa and Hifzkhana in Block A-3 of Camp-5 following days of heavy rainfall.
According to the Fire Service and camp authorities, all eight victims were girls aged between 12 and 13.
Rescue teams comprising Fire Service personnel, camp authorities and Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) volunteers rescued 14 people alive, six of whom were admitted to hospital for treatment.
Authorities have identified four of the deceased as Rashida Begum (13), Umme Nejatul (13), Umme Salma (12), and Umaisa Bibi (13). Umme Nejatul and Umme Salma were sisters and residents of Rohingya Camp-3, while the other two victims were from Camp-5. Efforts are underway to identify the remaining four victims.
Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) Mohammad Mizanur Rahman said the rescue operation concluded at around 5:00 pm. Members of the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) remained at the scene, while the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner supervised the rescue and post-accident response.
Local sources said around 50 students were present at the madrasa when the incident occurred. As heavy rain continued, many students left the building fearing a landslide. However, a section of earth suddenly collapsed onto a classroom located adjacent to the hillside, trapping several students under the debris.
A local resident, Maulvi Yunus, said the accident occurred just minutes before the madrasa was due to close. He added that the institution had been built on filled land beside the hill.
The latest tragedy comes just two days after eight people, including women and children, were killed in separate landslides at three Rohingya camps in Ukhiya following heavy rainfall on the night of July 6.
With the latest incident, the death toll from rain-related disasters in Cox's Bazar over the past three days has risen to 21, according to local authorities.
