At least 25,000 people are marooned in a flash flood caused by torrential rain in Hatiya, Subarnachar and Companiganj upazilas of Noakhali.
Tidal surge and torrential rain since Wednesday, caused by a depression, have inundated vast areas in the three upazilas.
Hatiya UNO Mahidul Islam told this correspondent over telephone on Thursday that eight unions in Hatiya: Boyar Char, Naler Char, Char King, Shok Char, Jasmera, Char Ishar, Nijhum Dwip and Char Changa and two unions in Subarnachar: Char Clark and Char Majid, were under three to four feet of water.
Sources said the flash flood has washed away 11,500 hectares of paddy, 492 hectares of vegetables, large trees, shrimp enclosures, fish ponds and caused damages to houses and other buildings.
One Ojifa Khatun, wife of Nurul Amin in Shok Char union, Hatiya, was killed by snakebite on Wednesday night.
A family member said Ojifa went out of her house on Wednesday night to search for her hens which were washed away by the tidal wave and was bitten by a snake.
According to the Met Department’s forecast, heavy rainfall is likely to continue Friday at places over Chittagong and Barisal divisions.