Flooding caused by days of torrential monsoon rain has left at least 19 dead throughout northern Myanmar, including an unknown number killed when a bridge collapsed in Shan State’s Thibaw Township on July 25, reports said.
A crowd had gathered on the 100-year-old bridge over the Dohtawady River to watch the floodwaters, the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported on July 26, quoting witnesses who said at least three people were missing.
Flooding also claimed six lives at a village in Mandalay Region’s Thabeikkyin Township on July 25, the daily said. In neighbouring Sagaing Region, nine lives were lost in flooding in 11 townships that has a ected 70,000 people, the Relief and Resettlement Department said on July 23.
Flooding has also caused the relocation of more than 800 families in Kachin State’s Mogaung Township, the RRD said.
Rail travel between Mandalay and the Kachin capital, Myitkyina, was disrupted by the flooding, which has also affected Magway, Bago, Yangon and Ayeyarwady regions and Rakhine and Kayin states.
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Government and international agencies have begun a relief operation to help victims of the floods, which have caused widespread damage to farmland.
