More than 5800 people have been evacuated in Mon State following heavy rainfall and flooding yesterday.
Seventeen temporary shelters have been built for people affected by the floods in the Mon State capital Mawlamyine, south east of Rangoon.
“ We’ve had 13.7 inches of rainfall and floods have swept through the town due to the heavy rain causing the rivers to rise,” said Myint Oo, administrator of Mawlamyine Township.
Over the weekend the urban center of the city experienced its heaviest rainfall yet during the monsoon season. The rising floodwaters broke the banks of the Thanlwin river in parts.
Out of 29 wards in Mawlamyine town, the 10 wards of Zegyo, Thiri Myaing, Hlaing, Tharyar Aye, Lan Thit, Shwe Myaing Thiri, Thiri Mingala, Zeyar Myaing, Taung Wine and Myaing Thar Yar have been affected by the floods.
Civil society organizations, Red Cross Society, Fire Services Department, the police, military and local authorities are working together to provide help for people hit by the floods.
Bo Bo Win, a member of the Mawlamyine based emergency rescue team, said: “The worst situation is in Taung Wine where the currents are strong and people cannot pass through the flooded area. So, we have had to rescue them. In other places people have not yet been evacuated from their homes.”
The severe rain has also caused landslides at Kyaikthalan pagoda and the destruction of roads and bridges between Mawlamyine and Kyiakmayaw and, Mawlawmyine to Yay road intersections. The Mawlamyine highway to Yangon has also been damaged.