Flood possibility high in five rivers

 

 

"Due to the heavy rain in lower Myanmar, the water levels of rivers are higher. The Ngawon River rose one foot above the danger level on August 4. The Thanlwin River is now above the danger level and it may rise another foot within two days,” an official from the department told Eleven Media.

The level of Ayeyawady River, however, remains normal in most areas, excluding Myitkyina, Bhamo and Katha, the department said.

It also warned this morning that the Bago River may swell to its danger level within 48 hours in Bago Region, and that it was merely one foot below that level as of 10.30am.

More than 2,000 homes in the region’s Hmawbi Township have also been flooded and schools have been shut.

Because of the heavy rain, over 1,000 acres of farmland west of Ngawon River in Ayeyeawady Region have been submerged since the weekend. The flooding is at its worst in Ngathaing Chaung and Laymyathna townships, where hundreds of families could see their seasonal rice crop destroyed if the floodwaters do not recede within a few days, local residents say.

The land is along the Ngawun River, which overflowed its western bank in Ngathai Chaung and Lemyethna townships over the weekend, residents said.   

Bo Win, a resident of Gwetauk village, said the rice fields have been flooded since August 2. He said that if the waters recede within three or four days the crop can be saved, but if the fields remain submerged longer the paddy will be damaged. If the fields remain submerged for 10 days the crop will be destroyed, he added.

Nearby roads have been submerged since the weekend, local residents also said. They reported the flooding to authorities but nothing has been done to assist them, they said, adding that both the flooding and the lack of assistance were annual events.   

An official at Gwetauk village tract in Ngathai Chaung Township said data on flooded areas was still being collected. He estimated that more than more than 1,000 acres of farmland were flooded in the village tract alone.

He said that on August 3 a section of the PatheinMonywa road was damaged by flooding, but that vehicles were only temporarily prevented from using it because local residents were quick to repair it. As of August 4 it was completely repaired, the official said.

Houses as well as paddy fields have been submerged in the flooding, residents said.

 Another 100 acres of farmland along Marin creek in Lemyethna Township has been submerged by floodwaters, local residents say.

They blamed the building of an embankment around the site of the new township administration, saying this had caused flooding in surrounding areas. Farmer Khin Maung Tun said flooding occurred even when there was little rain due to the embankment. Local residents said more than 600 acres of farmland in 15 villages of Lemyethna Township have been submerged by floodwaters.

Annual flooding in the cuts off transportation, disrupting access to healthcare, schools and markets, said Than Htike, chairman of Kayin Progress Party.