Aug 12, 2008 (DVB), The water level of the Bago river is predicted to reach the emergency level of 910cm within the next two days due to ongoing heavy rains, according to the Burmese government’s Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.
Locals in Bago township said the floods, which have been affecting areas around Bago, Dike Oo, Shwe Kyin, Nyaung Lay Pin and Kyauktagar townships since July, are now reaching the towns.
"The rain is still falling and water from the Bago river is now reaching into houses , Shwe Than Lyaung, Kyauk Gyi and Yay Kyaw districts are now under water," said a Bago resident.
"The railway station has been affected by the flooding too, but the railway itself is fine because it was built on high ground , but the passengers have had to travel to the station by boat," he said.
"We assume the water will reach emergency levels in Bago within the next three days."
In Shwe Kyin, the water level has already risen to 35cm above the emergency level of 700cm, but the DMH has forecast it will go back down below the emergency level within the next two days, said locals.
Farmlands and gardens along the banks of the Shwe Kyin river have been flooded and all local schools have been shut, residents said.
"We are facing transportation problems as well since we can only go around in boats," said a resident of Shwe Kyin.
Nyaung Lay Pin residents said several parts of the town had been submerged recently, and fourteen houses had collapsed in Yaypawtaung village early on Sunday morning, but no one had been injured.
In Dike Oo, where a few houses were recently damaged by a whirlwind, schools were closed for two days last week but have now reopened.
Reporting by Naw Say Phaw