Three students killed as landslide buries Madrasa in Rohingya camp

At least three students were killed after a hillside collapsed onto a madrasa building inside a Rohingya refugee camp in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, on Wednesday, while rescue teams continued searching for several others believed to be trapped under the debris.

The landslide occurred around midday following heavy rainfall that has lashed the district in recent days, increasing the risk of slope failures across the hilly refugee settlements.

Confirming the incident, Ukhiya Fire Service Station Officer Dollar Tripura said firefighters were conducting rescue operations at the site. He said an estimated 20 students were believed to have been inside the madrasa when the hillside gave way, leaving many trapped beneath the collapsed structure.

"Three students have so far been confirmed dead, and our teams are continuing rescue efforts," he said, adding that the number of casualties could rise as the operation progresses.

Emergency responders, assisted by camp volunteers and local residents, have been removing mud and debris in a race against time to locate survivors.

The Rohingya camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf are highly vulnerable to landslides during the monsoon season due to their densely populated settlements, steep slopes, and fragile earthen embankments. Thousands of refugees live in makeshift shelters constructed on deforested hillsides, making them particularly susceptible to heavy rain-induced disasters.

The latest tragedy comes amid a series of rain-triggered landslides across Cox's Bazar's hilly areas. Over the past several days, continuous monsoon downpours have caused slope collapses, inundated roads, and damaged homes in Ukhiya, Teknaf, and surrounding areas. Authorities have repeatedly warned residents of both refugee camps and nearby hill communities to relocate from high-risk zones as heavy rainfall is expected to continue.

Rescue operations were still underway at the time of reporting, with officials yet to release a final casualty figure. Authorities said further details would be provided once the search operation is completed.