Landslide kills at least 8 people in Bangladesh

CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh (AP) — A landslide triggered by days of incessant rain killed at least eight people in a southeastern Bangladesh city on Friday, a fire official said.

A big chunk of earth from a hill buried the victims' thatched huts as they slept in Chittagong city's Tigerpass area, fire official Farid Ahmed said. A concrete wall constructed to prevent landslides collapsed, he said.

Ahmed said rescuers recovered eight bodies and two survivors from the rubble and were searching for others believed to be trapped.

According to residents, at least 15 people lived in the huts, he said.

He said many other families are living in the area despite warnings from local authorities.

The residents of the area mainly work as day laborers or housemaids.

Manjurul Alam, mayor of Chittagong city, visited the area and ordered the immediate evacuation of the remaining residents to avoid further casualties.

Chittagong is 135 miles (225 kilometers) southeast of the capital, Dhaka.

Landslides are common in Bangladesh during the monsoon season. Last year, more than 60 people died in rain-triggered landslides in the region.