On Sunday authorities reported that 200mm of rain had fallen in the previous 24 hours in Bago region northeast of commercial hub Yangon – a record for October.
Heavy rain continued through Monday night.
“I didn’t expect this level of water here,” said Chit Nyunt, 69, told AFP as he waded down the street holding a pair of sandals and an umbrella.
“I have never seen anything like this.”
State broadcaster MRTV said 14,000 people had been displaced across Bago region, northeast of commercial hub Yangon.
Almost 5,600 people were being accommodated in local government temporary relief centres, according to the state-backed Global New Light of Myanmar.
The lower floors of Bago’s general hospital had been flooded, a resident told the newspaper, and three of Myanmar’s four telecoms providers were not working in the area.
Flooding began in July and has affected nine of Myanmar’s states and regions, including Rakhine, Kachin, Karen, Mon and Chin.
Myanmar is in the grip of a bloody civil conflict between the junta, which ousted the government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, and armed groups opposed to its coup.
Source: CNA
