10,000 people displaced in flooding caused by heavy rains in Southern Myanmar

10,000 people were displaced and severe disruption of traffic was reported from major cities in flooding caused by heavy monsoon rains in Southern Myanmar.

Myanmar's Meteorological Department reported that Bago township received its highest rainfall in 59 years, with a total of 7.87 inches (200 millimeters) of precipitation. The department also stated that rain or thundershowers were expected to continue until Monday evening across the country.

Lay Shwe Zin Oo, a senior official at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement said that the continuous rainfall in the Bago region that started last week has resulted in flooding in the low-lying areas of the township. She further stated that 32 relief camps, schools, and Buddhist monasteries in Bago were providing shelter to people affected by the floods. The authorities were also offering food, drinking water, and other essential assistance to those in need. So far, no casualties have been reported, however, more than 10,000 people had to evacuate their houses and move to safety. It has been reported that flooding in low-lying areas was at least 7-8 feet deep, while the water level downtown was 3-4 feet.

Myanmar Alinn reported that trains traveling from Mandalay, the second-largest city in central Myanmar, and from southern Mawlamyine township were halted mid-route due to flooding. In addition, scheduled departures from Yangon, the country's biggest city, were canceled because rail lines were flooded by the rapid flow of water from mountain torrents and the spillage from dams in the Bago region. Some neighborhoods in Kyaikto township in southern Mon state were also flooded by water from mountain torrents, forcing 555 people to take shelter in three relief camps on Sunday.

This is the second time this year that Myanmar has faced such severe flooding. In July and August this year, floods killed five people and displaced approximately 60,000 in the Mon, Kayin, Rakhine states, Bago, and Magway regions.

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