Kutupalong, Bangladesh: Five people were killed in torrential rain laced with strong winds followed by landslides, which  destroyed hundreds of huts today at about 1 am in the Kutupalong unregistered camp, said a refugee elder from the camp.

The landslide from the top of the hill destroyed the mud wall of huts built on the hillside. Among the five killed five were three children, he said.

Heavy rain and gusty winds came from the border of Bangladesh-Burma where most refugees live in makeshift camps.

The mud walls of huts collapsed over other huts on the hillside and mud covered people sleeping in the huts. Some escaped, said an elder refugee from the camp.

Refugees informed the concerned authorities but no action was taken. They said it was a natural disaster. The refugees buried the dead as per custom, sources said.

The children were one, two and seven years old.

“Most of the huts were destroyed by heavy rain and landslide. Now we are unable to build huts as we have no money or food,” said a refugee committee member. “We are unable to go to work as the authorities are arresting us when we are going out of the camp.”