“The bridge fell down while a heavy truck carrying pebbles for road construction was crossing.”

“The truck is still on the bridge that fell down, and the communication is totally cut off between Maungdaw and Buthidaung as no alternative roads exist in the area.”

“The accident occurred seven miles from Buthidaung near a small tunnel (Kagyikaway, or A curve, as locals call it) where the road is narrow between the mountain and a stream ditch,” said an official from Maungdaw Road and Construction Department.

“All the bridges along the highway of Maungdaw-Buthidaung only have a capacity of three tons, but now the Miko Company is working with ten wheeler trucks for logging in the area. The road is not strong enough for this type of truck, especially in the rainy season. The logging has been permitted by high authorities, so the road department has no power to stop the heavy trucks on the road.”

“We issued an order to all transport establishments that any vehicles that cause damage to the bridge have to pay all the costs for repair, but most of the heavy vehicles which have damaged the bridge are from Miko.”

“We are facing so much difficulty to get to Buthidaung, as it is our flying business carrying goods from Buthidaung to Maungdaw for our survival. The accident occurred in a place where we are not able to carry any goods from one side to another,” said Mohamed Illiyas from Maungdaw.

“The truck is from the road department, and the truck and bridge have not completely fallen down, but are hanging on half-way. We don’t know if the authorities will come to help with this situation.”

“If it takes too much time to fix and reconnect the bridge, the people in both townships will face hardship for their survival.”