DHAKA, Aug 27, Reuter: Floods triggered by heavy rains have killed more than 80 people in Bangladesh and authorities ordered a disaster alert, officials said on Saturday.
They said 33 people were killed on Friday when houses collapsed and a boat ferrying flood victims capsized in the Jammu River.
The official news agency said on Friday night all major rivers including the Pakma, Brahmaputra, Jamuna and Meghna were flowing above their danger levels and were expected to rise further.
Weather officials said 800mm (32 inches) of rain fell over northern Bangladesh in the past three days, spreading the floods to 21 of the country’s 64 districts,
Floodwaters have begun entering low lying areas around the capital Dhaka and hundreds of families have already moved to safer places.
An official in the northern town of Rangpur said by telephone that some areas were knee deep water on Saturday, and residents took refuge on the roofs of their flooded houses.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 2, 1988
