Continuous rain in the Rakhine State has triggered floods in Minbya town and villages under Minbya Township and the residents of some wards from the town and villages have been taking shelter at monasteries and schools.
The flood-affected residents need drinking water and some villages need motorboats for evacuation.
The entire Minbya town has been flooded and residents of suburban wards have been forced to evacuate.
“The suburban wards in Minbya - Min Bar Gyi, Aung Thar Yar, and Thapyay Nyo wards – have been inundated more and [the residents] of smaller homes relocated to bigger homes. Some of them relocated to monasteries,” Minbya resident U Thein San told Narinjara News.
The flood situation is critical in over 30 villages along Pan-myaung-gyi and Hpon-thar creeks in Minbya Township.
“Villages along Pan Myaung Gyi Creek have to evacuate to monasteries. The floodwater is around a man’s height in some villages and [villages] along Phon Thar Creek have been inundated. The situation is bad in Pwe-ya-kan-seik, Oe-pyin-taung, Pyin-yaung, Min-hpu, and Ah-thay-ka-lar villages. All the houses have been inundated,” said U Thein San.
Drinking ponds have also been inundated so the residents are in need of drinking water.
“The water level is at least four feet high in the villages. It’s five feet high in the villages from lower areas. A person stayed home in each home and the rest of the family members have evacuated to bigger houses, monasteries, and the foothill of the mountain. The main difficulty they are currently facing is drinking water,” said Ko Ann Thar Gyi, chair of Thingaha Kann Latt Rakhita group.
Ko Ann Thar Gyi has visited Ah-thay-kar-la, Ka-la-ma Taung, Chin-seik, Taw-tan, and Don-gyi, which have been inundated with floodwater.
The residents of some villagers are also facing difficulties in evacuating due to lack of motorboats.
“The residents from Pwe-ya-kan-seik Village have to evacuate to monasteries, schools, and bigger homes. Motorboats are needed for them to evacuate,” said U Maung Thein Shwe from Pwe-ya-kan-seik Village.
Kat-pe Village near Pan-myaung-chaung Creek have also been inundated with ten feet of floodwater so the residents have left their village and fled to the foothill. A monastery will become inundated if the water level rises by another foot.
