Flash floods strike two Bangladeshi islands

Dhaka, May 29: Flash floods triggered by early monsoon rains have washed away more than 400 houses in two Bangladeshi islands in the Bay of Bengal, officials said today.

Hundreds of people have been affected by the flooding in Kutubdia island, 45 km (30 miles) from the town of Cox's Bazar, but there has been no report of any casualties, a local official said.

The other affected island was Maheshkhali, 15 km (10 miles) off Cox's Bazar, where some 70 houses were damaged by surging waters and landslides triggered by the rains.

Floods in Bangladesh kill hundreds of people and make thousands homeless each year.Monsoon rains normally hit the country in the middle of June.

Reuters