Monsoon Toll in South Asia Exceeds 1,500

Flood-weakened riverbanks collapsed and water engulfed more homes in Bangladesh as the death toll in South Asia from this year’s monsoon surpassed 1,500.

As floodwater began receding, more bodies were found, pushing the death toll from six weeks of monsoon rain in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan to 1,509. The deaths have been caused by drowning, landslides, electrocution and waterborne diseases.

Water levels in overflowing rivers in Bangladesh began dropping Thursday, slightly easing the floods that have swept away homes, crops, roads, bridges and schools.

But the receding water created a problem: Lower water levels made the rivers flow faster, eroding banks and earthen embankments that already were weakened by being underwater for days.

Floodwater mixed with effluent has inundated nearly 40% of the capital, Dhaka. The weather office in Dhaka said more rain was expected in the north this week.