DHAKA, 26 July 2007 — A powerful storm flattened more than 500 houses in eastern Bangladesh yesterday, killing a child and injuring nearly 50 people, police said.
In Noakhali, an eight-month-old baby boy was killed, many thatched houses flattened and many trees uprooted by tornado that lashed villages in Chatkhil and Hatiya. The child died when his house in Hatiya collapsed.
In Brahmanbaria, at least 10 people were injured and over 100 thatched houses damaged. Witnesses said the storm swept through five villages damaging a large number of houses and educational institutions. The storm also uprooted a large number of trees and electric poles.
In Jamalpur, at least three people were injured and over 200 thatched houses and many trees were damaged in the tornado that hit Sadar and Sarishabari sub-districts in the morning.
In Comilla, 20 people were injured, 80 thatched houses were damaged in the storm.
Three crew members were missing after a Bangladeshi ship carrying more than 1,400 tons of cement sank in the Bay of Bengal near Chittagong port, 300 km southeast of the capital, Dhaka.
