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Eleven killed in Bangladesh landslide: police

Monday August 18, 2008 - 19:44 EST

At least 11 people have been killed in Bangladesh after heavy rains triggered landslides in the south-eastern port city of Chittagong, police said.

Local police chief Abu Zafar Mohammad Faruq said the victims died while sleeping in flimsy homes at the bottom of hills, and that several people were still missing following the landslide.

"So far we have recovered 10 bodies and rescued three people. One of those died in hospital," Mr Faruq said.

Heavy monsoon rains over the past two days triggered the landslides, he said, adding that hundreds of people living in tin shacks on the slopes had already been moved to safer places.

Mr Faruq said 142 millimetres of rain had fallen in the city in the past 24 hours.

In June last year, landslides triggered by the heaviest rain in Chittagong in recent years killed at least 130 people.

- AFP

- AFP

© AFP 2008