Catastrophic sudden flooding in southeast (2024)

Catastrophic sudden flooding in southeast (1)Over three million people remained marooned while households and animals afloat in the worst flooding in Bangladesh's southeast, prompting the just-installed government to deploy security forces for rescue and relief.

Reports say a record rain and onrush of upstream water from the dams and barrages in the neighbouring Indian states have flooded eight southeastern districts, leaving more than 3.0 million people marooned, and devastating crops and livestock.

Deaths of eight people could be confirmed so far but the toll could be much higher which could be known with the floodwater receding, said insiders.

A flood of such magnitude has not been experienced in living memory, which trapped thousands of families, displaced them into flood shelters.

"Rescue efforts by the Bangladesh Army, other government agencies and volunteer groups are underway, but the sheer scale of the disaster is overwhelming local resources," says an eyewitness account.

Floods have affected Cumilla, Feni, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, and Brahmanbaria, with 357 unions impacted and nearly 3.0 million people affected until Thursday noon, according to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR).

Feni gives the looks of a veritable human catastrophe. The flood condition was found worst in the district as fifteen unions across six upazilas have been affected by onrush of water from Dumroo dam opened by India as well as heavy rainfall for last few days.

According to sources, Kalshi barrage on the river Muhuri in the Indian part has also been opened, which dealt a double blow.

Over 0.3 million families faced inundation while one person drowned in floodwaters in Feni.

The government is operating 78 shelters where 20,000 people had taken refuge until Thursday noon, said the MoDMR in its Thursday briefing.

Connection between Feni and Dhaka by road has already snapped as water also submerged highways in Chouddagram in Cumilla.

In Cumilla, 124 unions across 12 upazilas have been severely affected by the flood havoc.

A total of 0.8 million have been water-locked while three deaths were reported.

The government has opened 587 shelters, providing refuge to 4,302 people along with 667 cattle, said the ministry.

Floods have impacted 86 unions across 8 upazilas of Noakhali district.

About 0.184 families are water-locked, affecting a population of 1.9 million.

A total of 388 shelters have been opened, housing 36,115 people and 4,714 cattle.

In Chittagong, 38 unions in 3 upazilas are grappling with flood onslaughts. This has trapped 35,750 families, affecting a total of 0.16 million people.

The government has opened 239 shelters, providing refuge to 1,725 people and 62 cattle. In addition, 137 medical teams are operating in the area.

Floods have ravaged Moulvibazar district, too, leaving 22,577 families water-locked and affecting 0.112 million people.

In Khagrachhari hill district, 27 unions across 8 upazilas have been affected by the flood. The disaster has trapped 33,522 families, with a total of 0.11 million people affected.

In Habiganj district, 22 unions across 5 upazilas have been hit by the flood and in Brahmanbaria 8 unions in 2 upazilas of district have been affected.

Tragically, one person has lost life in Brahmanbaria.

The government, however, allocated Tk 18 million and 13,600 tonnes of rice, 12,000 packets of dry-food packets so far.

Sardar Uday Raihan, executive engineer of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, said the flood was caused by seven rivers overflowing due to heavy rainfall starting on August 16, combined with a low from the sea entering Bangladesh on August 18.

"The excessive rain, sea tides heightened by the full moon, and upstream water flow from India's Tripura, caused by the opening of dam gates have worsened the situation, leading to record-breaking water levels in rivers such as Khoai, which reached its highest level in 60 years."

Uday Raihan states that the flood conditions may improve within 48 to 72 hours.

Dr Md Sadekul Alam, deputy director of the Met Office, adds: "Heavy rain upstream contributes significantly to the flooding, and while rain in Bangladesh's southeastern region may ease by Friday, upstream conditions could still see more rain in the coming days."

Meanwhile, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has started providing rescue and aid for the flood-affected people.

The anti-discrimination student movement has launched a significant public relief effort aimed at supporting flood-affected people in various districts across the country.

Individuals from all walks of life are contributing according to their means, offering both material aid and cash donations.

On Thursday afternoon, the scene at TSC was one of active participation.

Booths set up near the main gate under the banner of the anti-discrimination student movement were collecting donations. Volunteers, including one of the movement's coordinators, Rafia Rehnuma, were busy receiving donations. Some participants brought clothes, while others contributed dry food like biscuits.

Volunteers gathered the relief items and organized them in TSC's indoor sports hall.

Monetary donations were also being collected, with the student volunteers meticulously logging each contribution in a ledger. This transparency has helped build trust in the initiative, encouraging further donations.

The initiative was formally announced by Abu Baker Majumdar, another coordinator of the movement, in a press release on Wednesday.

According to the release, the central delegation of the movement will oversee coordination, ensuring effective rescue and relief operations for those affected by the floods.

All types of communication networks, including road, rail and telecommunications as well as power supply have collapsed in nine flood-hit districts, thereby leaving thousands of people in grave peril.

Traffic on Dhaka-Chattogram highway got disrupted as Chauddagram Sadar upazila in Cumilla remained inundated by floodwaters early Thursday.

Vehicular movement has been restricted, although part of the highway in the affected area is still operational.

The Feni-Parshuram regional road became impassable as submerged with floodwaters.

Traffic on Akhaura-Agartala road was suspended on Wednesday morning after a Bailey bridge over Kalundi canal collapsed.

The rail line from Feni to Fazilpur went under water. After 12 noon on Thursday, the rail service between Chattogram and Cumilla has been suspended following damage to Cumilla rail line.

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Catastrophic sudden flooding in southeast (2024)

FAQs

What factors led to the catastrophic flooding of southeast Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina? ›

There were two direct causes of the levee breaches: collapse of several levees with concrete floodwalls (called I-walls) because of the way they were designed, and overtopping, where water poured over the tops of the levees and floodwalls and eroded the structures away.

What catastrophic event can result in flooding? ›

Floods can happen during heavy rains, when ocean waves come on shore, when snow melts quickly, or when dams or levees break. Damaging flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. Floods can occur within minutes or over a long period, and may last days, weeks, or longer.

What's causing all the flooding? ›

Climate models show that flood risk is growing as atmospheric rivers—the storms that cause most large floods—become more intense. Risk is also increasing due to sea level rise and slope-destabilizing wildfires.

Which US city has the greatest chance of experiencing a catastrophic flood? ›

New Orleans, Louisiana:

The city's unique geographical location and its complex system of levees, pumps, and canals make it highly vulnerable to storm surges and intense rainfall events. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 serves as a grim reminder of the catastrophic consequences of inadequate flood protection.

What is the cause of catastrophic flooding? ›

Global warming from climate change means more evaporation and more moisture in the atmosphere, which means rainfall can be intensified. And intense rainfall and changing landscapes make for more disastrous floods.

Why did New Orleans suffer extreme flooding as a result of Hurricane Katrina? ›

The hurricane's powerful winds and storm surge caused massive destruction along the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The failure of levees in New Orleans led to catastrophic flooding, with approximately 80% of the city submerged.

What is the largest flood in history? ›

In 1927 the Mississippi's levees could not hold back the water from record precipitation and 27,000 square miles flooded over seven states resulting in a death toll of 246.

Why is flooding getting worse? ›

However, unfortunately we need to recognise that flooding is going to become even more frequent and challenging to manage in the UK and elsewhere in the coming years because of: (i) sea-level rise and changes in rainfall patterns, driven by climate change; (ii) land use and land management changes including population ...

Where in the US are floods most common? ›

Florida is the most flood prone state due to its low elevation, extensive coastline, and frequent tropical storms and hurricanes. Heavy rainfall and storm surges frequently overwhelm drainage systems, leading to widespread flooding.

What city will sink first? ›

rising sea levels and frequent flooding

the result of his research overviews that out of the 36 cities, nine are poised to experience being submerged in the water first including saint mark's basilica in venice, waikiki beach in honolulu, miami beach in florida, eastern island in chile, maldives, and eifel in germany.

What parts of the US will be underwater by 2050? ›

32 U.S. cities, including New York and San Francisco, are sinking into the ocean and face major flood risks by 2050, new study reveals. Rising sea levels and sinking land threaten 32 U.S. coastal cities with worsening floods, including New York, Boston, San Francisco, New Orleans and Miami.

Which city is sinking into the sea? ›

Charleston, South Carolina, is among the cities scrambling to react to subsidence and rising seas. This city of 800,000 people is one of the fastest sinking cities (about 4 millimeters per year) in the eastern U.S., with a portion of that thought to be the result of human activities, including groundwater pumping.

What human factors caused the flooding after Hurricane Katrina? ›

The key ways in which human error contributed to the flooding in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina was through the poor design of many of the levees meant to protect the city.

What factor contributed the most the flooding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina? ›

The major breaches included the 17th Street Canal levee, the Industrial Canal levee, and the London Avenue Canal flood wall. These breaches caused the majority of the flooding, according to a June 2007 report by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

What factors caused Hurricane Katrina? ›

Hurricane Katrina formed from the combination of a tropical wave, an upper-level trough, and the mid-level remnants of Tropical Depression Ten. A tropical depression formed on August 23 about 200 miles southeast of Nassau in the Bahamas.

What caused the Louisiana flood? ›

In August 2016, prolonged rainfall from an unpredictable storm resulted in catastrophic flooding in the state of Louisiana, United States; thousands of houses and businesses were submerged.

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