Bangladesh storm kills 18, dozens injured*

16 Oct 2007 13:36:00 GMT
Source: Reuters

DHAKA, Oct 16 (Reuters) - A powerful storm swept through southern
Bangladesh killing at least 18 people in mudslides and house collapses
and injuring 100, officials said on Tuesday.

A woman and her two children were among those killed in a mudslide at
Betbunia in the southeast.

At least 20 fishing boats sank in the Bay of Bengal and at least 50 of
their crew were still missing, fishing community leaders said.

They quoted survivors saying that many of the missing could have
drowned. No other details were available.

Weather officials said nearly 225 mm (9 inches) of rain fell overnight
in Chittagong port city, severing road links with the Chittagong Hill
Tracts further to the southeast.

The storm originating in the Bay of Bengal made landfall around Monday
midnight, a weather official said, adding more rains were forecast
across the country over the next couple of days.

Streets in Chittagong were under knee-deep water, forcing authorities to
shut down offices and schools, a resident said by telephone from the city.