Severe flooding hits Chakaria, Matamuhuri, and Pekua; Over 200,000 stranded

Four days of relentless torrential rains combined with an onrush of mountain runoff from upstream have triggered devastating floods across vast stretches of Chakaria, the newly formed Matamuhuri, and Pekua upazilas. With the Matamuhuri River flowing well above the danger mark, more than 200,000 residents have been left stranded.

The situation worsened as breaches developed in several embankments along the Matamuhuri and Pekua rivers, allowing floodwaters to rapidly inundate residential areas. Meanwhile, heavy downpours triggered a landslide in the Boroitoli Union of Chakaria Upazila, claiming the lives of two children.

The victims, who were cousins, have been identified as Rumi Akter, 15, a 10th-grade student at Boroitoli Dakhil Madrasa and daughter of Mohammad Kajol; and Mohammad Tawsif, 10, a 4th-grade student at a local government primary school and son of Abdul Majid. They were residents of Mohsenia Kata village in Boroitoli.

"Between the severe flooding and the landslide, panic has gripped the local communities," said Mohammad Salekuzzaman, Chairman of the Boroitoli Union Parishad. "Village after village has been submerged for the last two days. The untimely death of these two children in the landslide is profoundly tragic."

Local sources reported that low-lying areas in Chakaria Upazila—including Boroitoli, Bamu Bilchhari, Kakara, Lakshyarchar, Chiringa, and Harbang—as well as Purbo Boroveola, Dhemeshia, Konakhali, BM Char, and Shaharbil unions under the newly formed Matamuhuri Upazila, have been completely submerged. In Pekua Upazila, Ujantia, Magnama, Barbakian, Mehernana, and the municipal areas are similarly underwater. Key roads, vast tracts of arable land, and numerous shrimp enclosures have been swallowed by the floodwaters, paralyzing daily life.

Fearing further landslides due to the non-stop rains, local administrations have deployed loudspeakers to urge families living dangerously at the foothills of mountainous areas to evacuate to safer shelters.

"We haven't seen the sun in four days," said Advocate Moinul Amin, a resident of Boroitoli. "Just when we think the rain is stopping and the water might recede, it starts pouring again. Moving around has become nearly impossible with all the roads underwater."

The economic toll is already being felt acutely by locals. Syed Alam, a farmer from Shaharbil Union, lamented that his Aman paddy seedbeds and vegetable fields are entirely submerged, predicting massive crop losses. Similarly, Shahidul Islam, a rickshaw puller in Chakaria Municipality, shared that the weather has kept passengers away, leaving him unable to earn enough to feed his family.

Moinuddin, President of the Ward No. 3 unit of the BNP in Chakaria Municipality, noted that the overflowing Matamuhuri River has flooded most parts of the municipality. "People can't even cook. They are surviving entirely on dry food," he said.

Shoaibul Islam Sabuj, Organizational Secretary of the Matamuhuri Upazila BNP, confirmed that the river remains above the danger level and reported that breaches in the Purutyakhali and Moronghona embankments in Konakhali Union have accelerated the flooding of nearby villages.

Responding to the crisis, Chakaria and Matamuhuri Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shahied Delwar stated that local public representatives have been ordered to remain on high alert.

"We are using loudspeakers to warn and evacuate people living on hilly slopes. To accelerate the drainage of upstream water toward the sea, we have opened the gates of all sluice structures in the coastal unions," the UNO added. He further noted that an emergency control room has been established to monitor the situation, and all relevant departments are prepared for relief operations.

According to Md. Nurul Islam, Executive Engineer of the Cox's Bazar Water Development Board, the Matamuhuri River had risen to 11.94 meters by noon today, flowing 14 centimeters above its official danger level of 11.80 meters.