Heavy rain, floods drench Asia

There is little respite for flooded areas in Bangladesh and India with more rain predicted

DHAKA, Bangladesh (CNN) -- Weeks of heavy rains have created misery and havoc in Asia with little relief forecast in the coming days.

Indonesia, India, Taiwan and China have all been drenched with heavy rain causing major flooding and landslides.

But perhaps the most badly hit is Bangladesh where half a million people have been marooned by rising floodwaters.

The worst affected areas are in the country's north, northwest and northeast.

The two major river systems, the Ganges (Padma) and Brahmaputra (Jamuna), are both rising and have passed the danger point at ten different locations in the region.

Bangladesh's Flood Forecasting and Warning Center estimates 500,000 people have been affected so far, rendered homeless by flooding and facing a growing threat of disease.

Officials have not given any casualty figures, though unofficial sources say at least six people have been killed and two remain missing.

Situation 'under control'

AUDIO Journalist Almas Zakiuddin reports on the latest situation in Bangladesh. 593KB / 55secs AIFF or WAV sound Journalist Almas Zakiuddin on the relief effort. 756KB / 1:10min AIFF or WAV sound   CNN WEATHER • Satellite image   • Forecast map   • City-by-city five day forecasts     EXTRA INFORMATION For more stories and interactive coverage on the typhoons that have struck across Asia this year click to CNN's typhoon watch     COUNTRY PROFILE • Bangladesh   • India   • China   • Indonesia      CNN.com Asia More news from our Asia edition

Authorities say the flood situation is under control, with enough food stock and relief supplies available. However, with more rain forecast, the situation could become increasingly serious.

"The flood situation is still normal. But we have taken all preparations to face any situation," the government's Disaster Management and Relief Ministry said in a press statement.

River embankments are being rebuilt in many areas and officials are preparing to evacuate people in the affected areas. No evacuations have yet taken place.

There is also concern that the flooding will have an impact long after the water levels recede with most crops damaged.

Despite there being no standing crop at the moment, seedlings have gone under water prompting the agricultural department be become involved in relief efforts.

India, China flooding

In neighboring India, in the state of Bihar, three major rivers overflowed their banks on Thursday night.

The floodwaters washed away homes and left fields knee deep in water.

Officials say 250,000 people have been affected by the latest flooding and efforts are underway to evacuate people and provide them with food and medical care.

To Asia's northeast, residents in China and Taiwan are struggling with the lingering effects of typhoon Toraji.

After tearing through Taiwan earlier in the week, killing 86 and leaving 130 missing, the storm has dumped heavy rains on northeastern provinces, flooding fields and destroying housing.

At least four people have died and three are missing in China's eastern coastal city of Qingdao, the state-run People's Daily reported.

The newspaper said on its website that three villages were submerged as torrential rain battered Laoshan district in Shandong province.

About 15 workers at a fish farm were swept away by floodwaters, eight were rescued while four died and three went missing.

Tornado, mudslides

Work is under way to excavate houses covered by mudslides in Taiwan

In a separate incident, a tornado ravaged the coast area near the city of Leizhou in China's Guangdong province Thursday, killing one fisherman and injuring more than 30, according to state-run Xinhua News Agency.

The tornado struck the sea for off the town of Dongli and overturned 16 fishing boats.

And on Indonesia's Nias island, the search is continuing for more than 100 people still missing from Tuesday's mudslides and flooding.

At least fifty people are known to have died and another 1,500 are homeless.

Rescue attempts are being hampered by lack of tools and equipment, poor communication and blocked roads.

More rain has also been forecast for the region, offering little respite.