Five days of heavy rain in Bangladesh have led to tragic flash floods and landslides reported to have killed at least 70 people, and leaving a further 200,000 people stranded and homeless.

Different parts of the country have been affected, though coastal areas have been worst hit with 30 people reported to have died in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and 24 along the coast of Cox's Bazar. In Sylhet three children have died after water rose to over 1m.

Rescue operations are currently underway and many victims are still thought to be trapped under mud. Most deaths have been the result of landslides leading to walls collapsing as well as large surges of water.

Agricultural experts assessing the damage are not yet sure how the floods will affect the farming industry. One official said: 'In flash floods water recedes as soon as the rain stops so hopefully there will not be too much damage.'

The cost to lives however, is much more difficult to assess. The intensity of the rains are some of the worst in recent years and many people are still marooned without any access to food, medical supplies or clean water.