Three Townships in Karen State Hit Hardest by Flood – Over 16,000 People Affected
Myawaddy, Hlaing-bwe, and Hpa-an townships, in Karen State, have been affected by severe flooding after heavy rain triggered a sudden rise in the river level of the Than-lwin (Salween) River and the Thaung-yin (Moei) River this week, the State Department of Disaster Management’s director U Lin Htut said.
“Currently, Myawaddy is in the first place [among the hardest-hit townships]. Hlaing-bwe is in the second place and now Hpa-an [has been affected by flood as well]. These three townships have been affected the most. Villages in Kawkareik and Kya-in-seik-kyi townships have also been affected a little by flood. It rained suddenly. There have been flooding on roads and bridges and schools and houses have been inundated,” he told Karen News.
U Lin Htut said that the state authorities have been inspecting the flood-affected areas in these three townships and relief camps have been opened for the local residents whose homes have been inundated.
As of 29, July, 2018 there has been reported that Karen State-wide, there are a total of 57 relief camps being opened in Hpa-an, Hlaing-bwe, Myawaddy, Kawkareik, Kyain-seikgyi and Hpa-pun townships to temporarily host over 16,000 population affected by the flood.
The state officials said Kawkareik, Kyain-seikgyi and Hpa-pun townships have also been hit with some flooding but they have not received any reports on the flooding in Than-daung townships.
The Karen State is affected by flooding every year and the flooding is worse this year compared to last year.
According to the observation on July 29, the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology announced that the water level of the Than-lwin River has exceeded by 6.03 feet at Hpa-an above its danger level and may continue increase in the next day.
The department estimated an increase in rain in the Kachin, Rakhine, Karen, and Mon states and advised the people living near the river banks and low lying areas in Hpa-an Township to take precaution measure.
