Two killed, hundreds injured as tornado strikes central Bangladesh

Dhaka (dpa) - A tornado blasted its way through central Bangladesh killing two people, rendering thousands homeless, and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, local officials said Friday.

The Thursday night twister left hundreds injured and several missing in Bangladesh's worst affected Pabna and Natore districts, with powerful winds downing trees and uprooting electric poles.

At least 200 people were taken to hospitals for injuries, mostly caused by flying debris and falling trees.

A woman and her young daughter died Thursday when the mud walls of their house collapsed on them in a village in Pabna district, about 200 kilometres north of the capital Dhaka.

Rescue workers said casualties figures could rise as several damaged villages had not been reached because of inaccessible roads.

Earlier in the week torrential rains set off sudden floods and mudslides in southern Bangladesh that left nine people dead and an estimated 50,000 homeless in villages along the Bay of Bengal coast. dpa af rk

AP-NY-10-10-03 0421EDT