Bangladesh has only just recovered from one of the most devastating flood disasters of recent decades, and the next monsoon storms are already rolling over the country. Heavy continuous rain drives around four million residents from their homes, at least 40 people die.
At least 40 people have died in Bangladesh as a result of monsoon rains and severe flooding in their wake. Around four million people have already had to leave their homes as a result. 21 of the fatalities were killed in lightning strikes, local police said.
After days of continuous rain, large parts of the north-east of the country are flooded. Several rivers burst their banks and entire villages had to be evacuated. The country's third largest airport in Sylhet had to be closed. The weather service predicted heavy rain for the next few days. They are likely to further aggravate the situation. According to the police, three adolescents between the ages of 12 and 14 were among the victims of the lightning strikes. Another four people were killed by landslides in the port city of Chittagong.
More than four million people have been affected by the floods, said Sylhet regional government chief Mosharraf Hossain. The entire region is without electricity. A resident of the village of Companyganj described how the whole place was suddenly completely under water on Friday. He and his family had to stay on the roof of their house all day until a neighbor finally rescued them with a makeshift boat.
The Sylhet region had just recovered from the worst floods in two decades, which killed at least ten people in May. Floods are frequent in Bangladesh. It is one of the countries most affected by climate change in the world. According to experts, the number and extent of monsoon and flood disasters in Bangladesh will continue to increase in the future.
