Monsoon storms and the resulting severe flooding are in Bangladesh and India more than 40 people died, millions had to leave their homes. Rivers overflowed in a short time, entire villages had to be evacuated, authorities announced on Saturday. According to the weather forecast, the situation is likely to worsen over the weekend.

Authorities say at least 25 people have died in Bangladesh alone, 21 of them from lightning. After days of continuous rain, large parts of the northeast of the country are flooded. In Sylhet, the capital of the hardest hit region of the same name, the third largest airport in the South Asian country had to cease operations.

Bangladesh: the entire Sylhet region without electricity

More than four million people have been affected by the floods, the head of the regional government of Sylhet, Mosharraf Hossain, told AFP. The whole region is without electricity.

A resident of the village of Companyganj described how the place was suddenly completely under water on Friday. He and his family had to stay on the roof of their house all day until a neighbor rescued them with a makeshift boat.

According to the local government, at least 16 people have died since Thursday due to floods and landslides in the neighboring Indian state of Meghalaya. In neighboring Assam, more than 1.8 million people have been affected by the floods. The Head of State, Himanta Biswa Sarma, has ordered local authorities to provide all necessary assistance to those affected.

More heavy rains expected in India and Bangladesh

Weather experts have predicted further heavy rain for the next two days. They risk further aggravating the situation in northeast Bangladesh and northwest India.

Floods occur regularly in flat and low-lying Bangladesh. Last month, the Sylhet region was hit by the most devastating flood in two decades. At least ten people were killed. According to experts, the number and extent of disasters caused by climate change will continue to increase in the future.