Nearly the entire village, Ma U in Paletwa Township, Chin state western Burma was gutted on 17 March. The fire started from the forest.

“The villagers in Sakhai and Yankhai had burnt parts of a forest area at a time for cultivation that caused the fire in Ma U village,” said a local.

However, there were no casualties in the fire. The villagers have now taken refuge outside the village near the river in temporary tents.

The fire affected villagers are being helped by the Baptist church and Mara church members, who are distributing rice and clothes. Neighbouring villagers are helping them to construct temporary tents and toilets.

It is learnt that 20 bulls and cows died in a forest fire in Tanku village in Matupi Township last Friday.

Most villagers in Chin state are busy in cleaning farms and burning their cultivated lands in order to cultivate new plants. But it leads to their homes and cattle even men being burnt. Deaths by fire are not uncommon.

On 11 March, Lungkhin village in Hakha Township was also gutted and about 40 houses were razed to the ground.  

Similarly, Lungkhua village in Falam township was gutted and about 11 houses were burnt out on 24 March. Meanwhile, 8 houses in Pinlung block (8) in Kalemyo, Sagaing division also gutted.