At least 13 people have been killed and 4.5 million affected by severe floods in Bangladesh, following days of relentless heavy rains, according to the country's disaster management and relief ministry.
The South Asian nation, home to 170 million people and interlaced with hundreds of rivers, has long struggled with frequent flooding. Bangladesh ranks among the world's most vulnerable countries to disasters and climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index.
In a bulletin issued on Friday, the disaster ministry confirmed, “4.5 million people have been affected, and 13 people have died across the country.”
Nearly 190,000 people have been evacuated to emergency relief shelters, as 11 of the country's 64 districts grapple with the severe flooding. The worst-hit area is Feni, a district located about 100 kilometres (60 miles) northwest of the major port city of Chittagong.
“It’s a catastrophic situation here,” said Zahed Hossain Bhuiya, a 35-year-old rescue volunteer in Feni, speaking to AFP. “We are trying to rescue as many people as we can.”
Emergency response teams have been deployed to assist those trapped or displaced by the floodwaters, but the scale of the disaster has made rescue efforts challenging.
As the flood situation worsens, authorities continue to urge residents to seek safety in relief shelters, while warning of further risks as rain persists across the region.
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