BAGO: Monsoon rains have triggered catastrophic floods and landslides in Myanmar, resulting in the tragic loss of five lives and necessitating the evacuation of approximately 40,000 people, as officials reported on Friday. This calamitous situation has led to widespread destruction and upheaval across the nation, adding to the woes caused by natural disasters and an ongoing internal conflict.
Disturbing footage from Rakhine state, which was previously battered by Cyclone Mocha in May, showcases the extensive damage caused by the deluge. Vast stretches of villages and farmlands have been submerged in murky, yellow-brown waters, further exacerbating the hardships faced by the populace.
While Myanmar experiences heavy rainfall during the monsoon season each year, the severity of this year’s events has raised alarm bells. Climate scientists attribute such extreme weather incidents to the exacerbating effects of climate change, which are being witnessed globally.
In Bago, located to the northeast of Yangon, some residents managed to evacuate preemptively, but others were caught off guard by the rapid surge in water levels. Soe Min Aung, a 23-year-old resident of Bago, recounted, “There are floods every year in Bago, but this one is the worst. Normally, the water is around knee- or thigh-deep during the rainy season.” He added that his family had been compelled to acquire a boat to navigate the deluge.
Severity of Flood in Myanmar
The severity of the flooding has led to the displacement of many families. Over 870 individuals found refuge in a monastery in Bago, where they received essential supplies and support from monks and well-wishers. Local official Khin Maung mentioned, “We arranged spaces for them to stay.”
Lay Shwe Zin Oo, the director of Myanmar’s social welfare, relief, and resettlement ministry, reported that the death toll had risen to five, and the number of evacuees was anticipated to exceed 40,000 by Friday. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that around 50,000 people in Myanmar have been adversely affected by the relentless monsoon rains and escalating water levels since the start of August.
Apart from the human toll, there has been substantial damage to crucial paddy crops in various states, including Mon and Kayin. Notably, water levels in several rivers, such as Bago, Bilin, and Salween, have begun to recede.
The devastation extends beyond the impact of the floods, as a landslide in Karen state severed a vital highway to a border town with Thailand. The Myanmar junta, which took control following a February 2021 coup, has revealed that it might take up to a month to construct a temporary bridge to restore connectivity.
These dire circumstances unfold against the backdrop of Myanmar’s ongoing internal strife, with clashes between the junta and civilian militias opposing its rule. Since the coup, a local monitoring group has reported more than 3,800 deaths, a toll contested by the junta.
