About a thousand people are stranded on the highway between the Arakan towns of Mrauk-U and Ann after the Kazu River burst its banks and made the road impassable.
Tanintharyi Region Fishery joint venture committee member Tin Ko Ko Oo is one of several government ministers among the commuters currently unable to drive their vehicles either forward or backward due to floodwaters. Ten buses are among those stranded.
“There are about 10 buses, around 1,000 commuters including a handful of Union parliamentarians, and some villagers stranded,” he told DVB by telephone. “We are now at Kazukaing, on the way to Ann. The emergency rescue services have been called.”
He said he believed the emergency services would only be able to carry the government officials and parliamentarians, so further arrangements would need to be made for other people.
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Heavy rains are continuing and floodwater from the surrounding mountains is increasing, said Tin Ko Ko Oo, speaking to DVB at 11am today.