More than 700 people died as a result of major floods and landslides, which this month shocked Bangladesh, India and Nepal, say humanitarian workers.

This is the worst flooding that some regions of southern Asia have seen for decades, and around 24 million people were affected, said the international Federation of red cross and red Crescent societies (IFRC). August is the monsoon season for South Asia, a time when a large part of the subcontinent is flooded by heavy rains. Officials fear that the situation may deteriorate as the season begins to unfold.

Reaz Ahmed, Director General of Department of disaster management of the city of Bangladesh, said that so far killed 118 people, and his country destroyed more than 45 thousand homes. "It's not normal, he said. "The flood this year was bigger and more intense than in previous years". The red Crescent said that flooding in Bangladesh is the worst that ever happened in the country.

In neighboring India, about 400 people were killed in the three affected States of the country: Assam, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. In the North of Nepal at least 143 people were killed and another 11 were missing and 43 injured from flooding and landslides.

As waters recede, rescuers fear that contaminated water and sanitation as a result of flooding can lead to a surge in fatal cases of diarrhoea and malaria.
sections: Accidents, World News