More than 7000 thousand people were forced to take shelter at 37 rescue camps as the Belin River has risen past the danger level in the wake of heavy rains and thunderstorms this past week. According to Dr. Khin Naing Oo, [MP] Mon State Hluttaw representative of Belin Township constituency, those affected by the flooding are being provided emergency supplies.
Approximately 15 schools in Belin Township have been closed temporarily since Tuesday due to the increasing of the Belin and the Donthami river levels.
Although the river level reached 1034 centimeters by noon Wednesday, vehicles could still pass on the Yangon-Mawlamyine Expressway through Belin, added Dr. Khin Naing Oo.
Meanwhile, the rising Ataran river level displaced 205 people from 56 households in Kaline-kaknine village, in Kyaikmaraw Township. Those affected took shelter at a temporary rescue camp set up at a local monastery with support from a rescue organization, according to the Mon State Government Office.
During a particularly heavy downpour at noon Wednesday, August 7 warnings were issued to vehicles traveling on the highway route of Hpa-An to Zar Tha Phyin to drive with caution, due to the road being swamped by the rising Thanlwin River level. By evening the flooding had reached 81 centimeters above the danger level.
The same day, two rescue camps were opened in Kyaikmayaw town to accomodate 600 flood victims. According to one rescuer, they were still waiting for more donors to support the need for food and emergency supplies to evacuees.
According to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology although the tropical storm originating in the Bay of Bengal did not target Myanmar directly, it brought heavy rains and thunderstorms to Nay Pyi Taw, Sagaing, Mandalay, Magwe, Bago, Yangon, Ayeyarwady, Tanintharyi, Chin, Rakhine, Kayin State and Mon State. The storm was expected to continue for another two days affecting Mon, Karen State and Tanintharyi.
Ye Pyar Kone village, near Mawlaymine suffered a deadly landslide on Friday morning, August 9th when heavy rains dislodged massive boulders and tons of mud destroying at least 16 homes and a monastery at the base of a mountain. Media reports cited at least 22 people were killed.
By Saturday morning, heavy equipment was on site, while search and rescue teams continued in their attempt to find survivors and recover bodies from the deep sludge.
Local officials expect the death toll may rise significantly as at least 100 people are reported missing.
Another landslide was also reported in Mottama, a small town in Thaton District of Mon State. Ten people were reported to have died and the Mon State government said 27 injured. According to the Mudon Rescue Association 30 people are missing.
The Irrawaddy news outlet reported the main highway from Yangon to Mawlamyine, was also buried under six feet (1.8 metres) of sludge.
Myanmar Mix reported heavy monsoon rains displaced some 26,000 people in 14 townships across southern Myanmar since Saturday. Additional affected include the Bago, Tannithary and Irrawaddy regions.
In the town of Shwegyin in eastern Bago region, residents waded through waist-deep waters or waited to be rescued by boat after the Sittaung river burst its banks, swallowing entire homes.
According to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs approximately 89,000 people have been displaced by floods in recent weeks, although many have since been able to return home.
