A big chunk of earth from a hill buried the victims' thatched huts as they slept in Chittagong city's Tigerpass area, fire official Farid Ahmed said. A concrete wall built to prevent landslides collapsed, he said.

Ahmed said rescuers recovered 12 bodies and two survivors from the rubble and were searching for others believed to be trapped.

According to residents, at least 15 people lived in the huts, he said.

He said many other families are living in the area despite warnings. They mainly work as day laborers or housemaids.

Manjurul Alam, mayor of Chittagong city, visited the area and ordered the immediate evacuation of the remaining residents to avoid further casualties.

Chittagong is 135 miles (225 kilometers) southeast of the capital, Dhaka.

Landslides are common in Bangladesh during the monsoon season. Last year, more than 60 people died in rain-triggered landslides in the region.