600 Killed, 200 Missing as Tornado Hits Bangladesh
A tornado swept through central Bangladesh, killing 600 people and injuring 12,000 others as it flattened buildings and tossed fishing boats, government officials said Thursday. At least 200 people were missing.
Wednesday evening’s storm, which also unleashed hail and heavy rain, struck hours after President Hussain Mohammed Ershad led nationwide prayers for an end to a drought that has been tormenting Bangladesh.
Survivors said the funnel cloud raged for 10 minutes at dusk Wednesday in the Manikganj area 25 miles northwest of Dhaka, the capital, and tore down “everything, including buildings.”
The twister capsized several fishing boats, raising fears that many of the 200 missing may have been killed.
“I saw black clouds gathering in the sky. In moments we found we were flying along with the house,” said Sayeda Begum, a 30-year-old housewife in the village of Saturia.
A government official confirmed the toll of 600 dead. A government doctor said at least 12,000 people were injured.
Troops on Thursday searched wrecked villages for survivors. In Saturia, a village of 10,000 people, nothing was standing for about one square mile.
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