Several days of constant rains have caused rivers to burst their banks in western Chin State, with the townships of Falam and Kalay particularly affected.

In Falam, the Sae Gyi creek in Khai Kan has overflowed, inundating nearby residences and forcing families to abandon their homes.

According to the district information department in Falam, some 20 houses in Ward (3), nearby the creek, are at risk of crumbling due to the floods. Seven families have already been relocated to stay with friends and relatives after their homes were pronounced too unsafe.

The monsoonal rains have also caused landslides in Falam through no casualties have been reported.

One hundred kilometres northeast of Falam, in Kalay, heavy downpours have caused severe riverbank erosion, and landslides have also been reported.

Township police officers, the fire department and volunteers have rallied to assist those families affected.

In Burma, the seasonal monsoon, which is responsible for a vast majority of the flooding in the region, typically begins in late May and dries up by the end of October.

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