Monday, September 10, 2007

Bangladesh en India door wederom getroffen door extreem noodweer

Fresh floods hit Bangladesh and parts of northern India by Steph Ball
Monsoon rains have brought renewed flooding across Bangladesh and also to Nepal and parts of Northern India, triggering landslides and sending thousands fleeing from their homes.

Bangladesh is in the midst of its Monsoon season, when it can rain almost every day between June and September. During this time the locals become well accustomed to bouts of flooding.

However, a month after heavier-than-usual monsoon rains brought record flooding to the country, waters have still not subsided in many areas and thousands remain homeless. With further heavy rain forecast this week, Bangladeshis were told to brace themselves for potentially devastating new floods after major rivers swelled "alarmingly" and neared danger levels. More than 30, 000 people were evacuated from more vulnerable areas.

On Sunday large swathes of Bangladesh were reported to be underwater again after the heavy rains, bringing further misery to the millions hit by flooding since late July. The floods so far have led to the deaths of more than eight hundred people.

Heavy rain over the weekend has also triggered landslides across Nepal and the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, with flash floods displacing thousands across Assam. Further heavy rain is forecast over the next few days.