By the Mon State Rescue and Resettlement Department’s count, there were 3,916 people sheltering in six relief centers in Kyaikto, 91 people in a relief center in Myepyo, 619 people in five relief centers in Bilin and 319 people in two relief centers in Thaton.

“The water has receded in the wards [as of July 25] and the people taking shelter from the flooding have started returning home. Water still remains in some farms,” said U Tin Soe, administrator of Kawt Sa Nai Ward in Kyaikto.

A total of 9,008 acres of farmland in Kyaikto, 7,997 acres in Bilin, and 112 acres in Paung have flooded since July 20. Only 2,950 acres in Bilin township have resurfaced as of July 24, the state’s Department of Agriculture said.

“Nothing has been damaged in the flooded area but we won’t know the situation until after the water recedes. We still haven’t received the full report from Kyaikto up to today. The water hasn’t receded completely. It has only receded on the roads but it still remains on the farms,” said U Aung Zaw Naing, deputy state officer at Mon State’s Department of Agriculture.

The department is prepared to provide seeds for flood-affected farms, but can only assist after the water recedes and the extent of the damage is surveyed, officials said. The department is also trying to assist farmers in protecting against the bugs that will follow the flood and is leading awareness trainings.

“If the leaves and tips of the paddy can be seen, the plants won’t die within a week. But if the entire plant is flooded, it can only last four or five days,” said the deputy state officer.

Over 4,000 acres of farmland flooded in Thaton District last year. The 2016 flooding only lasted a few days and no damage occurred, according to the Department of Agriculture.

The rainfall reached record-breaking heights in Mon State’s Thein Zayat, and Shan State’s Hsipaw on July 21 and 22, according to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology. More than 20 cities across the country have received more rainfall than normal for July.