Thunderstorms kill 17 and injure dozens

Published on 08/04/2012 00:00

BANGLADESH: At least 17 people died and dozens were injured by storms which wrecked homes and toppled trees in ten of the country’s 64 districts.

Most of the deaths were caused by lightning strikes. Others died when heavy rain and high winds wrecked mud and straw huts. Hundreds had to be rescued from the debris. There was also widespread flooding, which could have dire consequences for the local economy.

Bangladesh, which has a population of around 160 million people, is prone of such rainstorms, and regularly experiences floods due to its topography, having flat, low-lying land and a vast tropical delta.