Severe flooding hits Myanmar's Rakhine state, affecting over 6,000 people
Xinhua, July 8, 2016 Adjust font size:
Severe flooding has hit Myanmar's Rakhine state-north, affecting 6,100 people from 64 wards and villages in some four townships since Tuesday, official media reported Friday.
Triggered by torrential rain, two river banks of Laymyo and Kaladan bursted, affecting the wards and villages in Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Myebon and Minbya townships.
People residing in the low-lying areas are being evacuated to higher ground and sheltered at monasteries.
Tide level started to rise on Monday with increased heavy rain on Tuesday pushing the rivers to burst, submerging the areas.
A total of 204 high and middle schools were under water, causing traffic delay on Yangon-Sittway highway.
In the latest development, flood water are seen gradually receding in some areas.
Relief supplies are being dropped to flood victims in the areas that are not easily accessible due to poor infrastructure.
The flooding in Rakhine state has also ruined many shrimp ponds, destroying the fences protecting the ponds, other reports said.
In Minbya alone, 2,935 hectares of shrimp farms or 99 percent of them have been flooded, devastating the shrimp industry with loss beyond estimation. Enditem.