At least 16 people have been killed in Yangon, Shan State, and Bago Region during Tropical Storm Wipha, which brought heavy rains that caused flash floods and landslides in Myanmar since July 22.
“Floodwaters swept away homes and residents in Kongsaung village,” a resident of Pindaya Township in southern Shan State told DVB on the condition of anonymity. “We urgently need assistance,” he appealed to aid organizations and the regime in Naypyidaw.
Eight people were killed and over 30 buildings were destroyed when floods and landslides occurred in four villages on July 28 in Pindaya, which is located 43 miles (67 km) northwest of the Shan State capital Taunggyi.
The storm, which was downgraded from a typhoon after making landfall on July 22, has impacted several countries in the region. In Myanmar, flooding was reported from Ayeyarwady and Bago regions, to Karen, Mon, Shan and Arakan states.
The U.N. released a statement on July 31 reporting that six bodies were recovered from a landslide in Shan State and three bodies were recovered from flood waters in Taungoo District of Bago Region last week without specifying the exact locations or dates.
It added that more than 85,000 residents have been affected by ongoing floods with homes destroyed, roads cut off, and emergency services overwhelmed in Bago Region, as well as Karen, and Mon states.
Regime media reported two bodies were recovered from flood waters in Mongpauk town of Shan State on July 23. Mongpauk is located 389 miles (626 km) east of Taunggyi.
The U.N. described the impact of the floods as “further straining regions already destabilized by conflict and a devastating earthquake in March.” Extensive damage to infrastructure and crop fields from the rains was reported in some regions.
“The pathway out of the deteriorating situation in Myanmar requires an end to the violence,” said Farhan Haq, the U.N. deputy spokesperson, who also stressed the need for unimpeded relief operations.
At least 4,520 were killed and 11,366 were injured during the March 28 earthquake, according to DVB data. The regime puts the death toll from the quake at 3,770 people, with 5,104 injured and 38 missing.
The U.N. warned of critical shortages of food, clean drinking water, and medical supplies, along with a heightened risk of disease outbreaks for the 15 million people affected by the earthquake in Myanmar.
Over 3.6 million people have been displaced from their homes with 1.6 million of them living in areas hardest-hit by the quake according to the U.N., which also expressed concern over the regime’s limitations in ensuring “unimpeded access” for humanitarian aid deliveries of essential supplies.
