Myawaddy, Hlaing-bwe, and Hpa-an townships, in Karen (Kayin) State, have been affected by severe flooding after heavy rain triggered a sudden rise in the river level of the Than-lwin (Salween) River and the Thaung-yin (Moei) River this week, the State Department of Disaster Management’s director U Lin Htut said.
“Currently, Myawaddy is in the first place [among the hardest-hit townships]. Hlaing-bwe is in the second place and now Hpa-an [has been affected by flood as well]. These three townships have been affected the most. Villages in Kawkareik and Kya-in-seik-kyi townships have also been affected a little by flood. It rained suddenly. There have been flooding on roads and bridges and schools and houses have been inundated,” he told KIC News.
U Lin Htut continued that the state authorities have been inspecting the flood-affected areas in these three townships and relief camps have been opened for the local residents whose homes have been inundated.
The state officials said they have opened seven relief camps in Hpa-an, five relief camps in Myawaddy, and seven relief camps in Hlaing-bwe and around 5,000 people from over 1,000 households are taking shelter at the relief camps.
The state officials said Kawkareik and Kya-in-seik-kyi townships have also been hit with some flooding but they have not received any reports on the flooding in Hpa-pun and Then-daung townships.
The Karen State is affected by flooding every year and the flooding is worse this year compared to last year.
According to the observation at 1:30 pm on July 23, the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology announced that the water level of the Than-lwin River has exceeded by about 2½ feet at Hpa-an above its danger level and may remain above its danger level during the next two days.
The department estimated an increase in rain in the Kachin, Rakhine, Karen, and Mon states in the next two days and advised the people living near the river banks and low lying areas in Hpa-an Township to take precaution measure.
