Bangladesh counts cost after deadly landslides

DHAKA, June 13 (Reuters) Bangladesh rescuers were digging today for more victims of a series of rain-triggered landslides that killed over 100 people and left parts of the port city of Chitagong looking like a war zone.

Disaster management officials said up to five million people across the country were either marooned or threatened by floods after a two-day deluge described by officials as one of the worst in decades.

''It's a curse from the heaven. What can we do?'' said one shaken Chitagong resident, Mariam Begum.

Landslides on Monday devastated hundreds of flimsy homes built on vulnerable hillsides that had been illegally cleared of protective vegetation.

The government ordered an investigation and vowed to punish the offenders.

Rescuers including troops, firefighters and police said they feared dozens of bodies could still be trapped following the mudslides. They said they would continue the search, but conditions meant it was likely to end by midday.

''Although the floodwater has receded from most areas, others are still inundated, making it difficult for the diggers,'' one rescuer said.

Unusually heavy rains at the onset of annual monsoon season -- which will last until mid-September -- caused havoc across the country.

Officials said 112 landslide victims had been recovered in Chittagong today morning, while floods along the country's vast river basins had killed over two dozen more.

Lightning added to the country's woes, killing at least 15 people countrywide, disaster management and administration officials said.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed deep shock over the Chittagong tragedy and the UN Development Programme in Bangladesh allocated ,000 in emergency aid.

The United States offered a further ,000 in assistance.

Crops across a wide area have also been damaged, but no estimate of losses was immediately available.

Meteorologists said they expected the weather would improve over the next few days.

REUTERS PJ RK1316