Death toll from Myanmar's severe flooding rises to 96

Death toll from severe flooding in Myanmar has risen to 96, according to updated figures released by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Sunday.

Rising river water is threatening to inundate southwestern Ayeyawaddy region, a report said.

Residents in low-lying areas in the Ayeyawaddy delta are being alerted and urged to move to safer places as the Ayeyawaddy and Ngawun rivers remained above the danger levels in some four townships, namely Hinthada, Nyaungdon, Zalun and Seiktha.

Deadly floods, triggered by heavy rainfall since June, have affected 13 regions and states in Myanmar, destroying houses, farmland, railway lines, bridges and roads.

The Myanmar government declared on July 31 four disaster zones - Rakhine, Chin, Sagaing and Magway, of which Rakhine state was worst hit.

The flood disaster has affected more than 330,000 people across the nation and 505,215 hectares of farmland were submerged, according to the updated figures. Endi