Flood warning as Typhoon Wipha lashes Myanmar
The regime Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) reported on Wednesday that the levels of the Thaungyin River was expected to breach its banks in Karen State, along the Burma-Thailand border, and that the Shwegyin River in Bago Region, would also reach its danger level within the next 48 hours. This is due to rains triggered by Typhoon Wipha, which made landfall on Sunday along the coast of China.
“When the rain falls for 24 hours straight, there’s the risk of mountain runoffs,” Win Naing, an independent meteorologist, told DVB, adding that floods are likely until the end of August. The Sittaung River rose 1.5 feet (45 cm) above the critical threshold of Bago’s Madauk town and the Ngawun River three inches (7.6 cm) above that of Ayeyarwady’s Ngathaingchaung town on Tuesday, according to the DMH.
A resident living along the banks of the Sittaung River told DVB on the condition of anonymity that the water has risen rapidly over the past week but that rains have continued over the past 30 days. Win Naing added that Wipha is “unlikely” to be as strong as Typhoon Yagi, whose remnants caused flooding and landslides that killed at least 120 people across Burma in September.
Election sub-commissions to be formed in August
Sources close to the regime in Naypyidaw told DVB that the Union Election Commission (UEC) will begin forming election sub-commissions from the district to village levels on Aug. 1. The UEC is currently awaiting a list of regime staff designated to assist with the general elections, tentatively scheduled to begin in December.
The source told DVB on the condition of anonymity that teachers have been trained in using electronic voting machines across the country since July 14. Regime media reported that the UEC law was amended on June 19 to allow regime personnel to take positions at all levels of the electoral process.
The UEC has stated that electronic voting machines will operate on a “simple and secure” microcontroller system without relying on an operating system, or wireless connectivity such as the internet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth. A total of 54 political parties have registered to participate in the elections, which are expected in 267 out of 330 townships, according to the UEC.
Regime crackdown on ‘dissidents’ in northern Shan State
Residents of Lashio Township in northern Shan State told DVB that regime authorities have arrested three people for alleged ties to the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) during guestlist inspections. They’ve also checked the homes of former political prisoners who were freed from Lashio Prison when the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) captured the town on Aug. 3.
A former political prisoner told DVB on the condition of anonymity that several of those freed from Lashio Prison had already relocated to Hsenwi town, which came under MNDAA control on Jan. 7, 2024. Hsenwi is located 31 miles (49 km) north of Lashio. The MNDAA handed back control of Lashio to the regime on April 22, as part of its China-brokered ceasefire agreement signed on Jan. 18.
A source in northern Shan told DVB that the most recent round of talks between the regime and the MNDAA over the return of Hsenwi – with Chinese mediation – ended without any agreement in Lashio. A regime counteroffensive against the TNLA led to the recapture of Nawnghkio Township on July 16. Nawnghkio is located 96 miles (154 km) south of Lashio.
News by Region
SHAN—Sources on the frontline in northern Shan told DVB that regime positions have been reinforced in Hsamhsai village, which is located 14 miles (22 km) southwest of Nawnghkio town and 72 miles (115 km) south of Mogok Township of Mandalay Region.
Zin Yaw, a Burma Army defector, told DVB that the regime forces in Hsamhsai may move towards Mogok, which came under TNLA control on July 24, 2024. Nawnghkio is on the Mandalay–Muse road, or No. 14 Asia Highway, a vital trade route with China.
YANGON—The regime’s Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) stated Tuesday that a group of drug traffickers were arrested with methamphetamine, and other synthetic drugs, valued at 48.4 billion MMK ($10.83 million USD) in Insein Township on July 12.
The group is accused of attempting to transport the drugs from Burma to Malaysia, via maritime routes. Additional suspects believed to be connected to the drug smuggling operation were arrested in Mingaladon Township in mid-July.
ARAKAN—The Arakan Army (AA) Humanitarian and Development Cooperation Office stated Tuesday that 12,249 people across eight townships have been affected by rain and floods since late June. It has appealed for humanitarian assistance on their behalf.
A resident told DVB there has been significant crop losses due to the amount of water. Homes, roads, and farmland have also been destroyed, according to the AA. Residents reported that widespread flooding has occurred three times since June.
NAYPYIDAW—The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) announced Tuesday that it will sell $27 million USD and 130 million THB to fuel importers and import businesses in an attempt to control inflation, bringing the total foreign currency injection to $123 million USD this month.
The regime-controlled CBM sold $125 million USD in June, according to its announcement. The price of $1 USD was valued at 3,618 MMK on the CBM official foreign exchange trading platform. In the parallel market, $1 USD is equivalent to 4,450 MMK, as of July 23.
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