River levels in Myanmar far above danger levels
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The level of Ayeyawady, Chindwin and other rivers have exceeded warning levels by up to 143cm with no change due for around three days as Cyclone Komen hit Myanmar., according to the Meteorology and Hydrology Department.
Flood level is also high in Rakhine State and other areas, with 395,700 acres of farmland under water.
The President’s Office has designated Sagaing and Magway regions and Chin and Rakhine states disaster areas, following high flood levels and landslides.
National Natural Disaster Preparedness Central Committee was engaging in rescue and resettlement work in Ayeyawady and Bago regions and Kayin and Mon states, the information minister said.
The level of water in Hinthada, Ayeyawady reached its warning level on July 31 and is now 10cm above that level.
The Chindwin rose to its warning level in Kalewa on July 29 and went on to exceed the limit by 143cm.
The Thanlyin hit its danger level in Hpa-an on July 28 eventually reached 92cm above that marker.
The Sittaung water hit its danger level on July 30 and exceeded the level by 115cm.
The Pathein hit its level in Ngathaingchaung on July 27 and has exceeded that level by 57cm.
Heavy rains are expected throughout August.
“River water may rise in August. Floods mostly occur during this month. The monsoon wind is different from the previous years. It is equally strong in Rakhine State and Tanintharyi Region,” said Kyaw Moe Oo, the department’s deputy director.
In Maungdaw, Rakhine State, power cables have fallen and some low-lying areas have been submerged.
“Temporary relief camps have opened in monasteries and Arabic schools in Maungdaw. More than 400 people are staying there now. People are coming all the time. Roofs of some houses are damaged but there was no serious damage,” said Hla Myint, Maungdaw township administrator.
A tidal surge forced water three feet above the normal and almost all of the houses in Bomu Ywar, Ywar Thit and Aungmyay Bawdi wards were submerged. Villagers and hospital patients were evacuated to Maungdaw Myoma monastery, the central monastery and the town’s No.1 Basic Education High School.
“The patients have to be transferred to the schools as the hospitals are inundated. The current flood is the worst since 1994,” a nurse from Maungdaw hospital said.
An official from the Maungdaw border trade office said: “The tide toppled the trees in front of our office on July 30. It rose a foot above the normal level. It did not last for long before the water receded. There have many trees toppled in the town.”
Sein Hla Phyu from Maungdaw social network said: “The roof of my home is damaged and so are many other roofs in the village. The electricity is out as the power cables have fallen. My mobile phone’s battery is dead. I don’t know what happened outside of the town.”
Buthidaung saw a tidal surge on July 29 and contact with outlying villages have not been re-established.
Tidal water reached six foot and roofs were blown off by the storm. More than 900 people are taking shelters at seven relief camps in the town.
The Ministry of Agricultural and Irrigation says it is planning to re-cultivate paddy fields damaged by the storms.
Up to July 30, incessant rain has left 395,700 acres of farmland under water.
The ministry is planning to distribute fast-growing rice strains to farmers and use its tractors to clear damage and plough land after the water recedes.
Around 116,500 acres is flooded in Sagaing Region; 109,400 acres in Bago Region; 26,560 in Kachin State; 10,060 in Magway Region; 48,320 in Rakhine State; 17,540 in Yangon Region and 53,340 in Ayeyawady Region.
Sagaing Region tops the list of areas of damaged crops with 23,100 acres, followed by Bago with 1,330 acres.
The authorities are warning lower Myanmar to prepare for floods as the water heads towards the Bay of Bengal.
Quick-growing paddy strains are to be used for rapid re-cultivation in the damaged farmland.
