Incessant rains yesterday night flooded large areas of Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships in northern Arakan State, said sources in Maungdaw.

It is the second time this year that Arakan State has been hit by torrential rains, and a resident of Shweza village said recent storms have left many paddy fields flooded.

Officials have yet to say whether any areas have been affected by landslides or if there have been any deaths from the floods, though two fishermen were reported missing after they went to retrieve their fish traps during the storm.

A municipal official from Maungdaw said only the main road, market and mosque had so far escaped the flood waters, but that most of the township and surrounding villages had been affected by the flooding.

“Water has crossed over the Maungdaw-Buthidaung road near block number 4, and the Maungdaw general hospital is now under water,” the official said.

“If the waters don’t recede, residents will face problems in terms of health, food and access to clean water.”

A teacher from Maungdaw said rural villagers began moving to higher ground during the night for fear of the damage caused by flooding earlier this year in which more than 100 people died and more than 10,000 were displaced by torrential rains and landslides on June 14.

Others have complained that families in ground-level homes have been forced to take shelter with other families living on the upper floors of houses and apartments.

An elder in Maungdaw said that little help has been offered to affected residents.

“Last year there was similar rainfall, but there was no flooding. Maybe the water has not been able to flow to the sea because authorities have been building embankments along the river in order to build fences,” the elder said.

A labourer from Maungdaw also expressed concern about the embankment fences.

“If there were no fences on the embankment, there would be no flooding. If the floods continue, what will happen to Maungdaw?”