More than 500 residents living in low-lying areas and near the Thaung Yin (Moei) River in Myawaddy, Karen State, have been temporarily relocated after heavy rainfall caused the river to rise, according to local residents and social rescue organizations.
At 6:30 a.m. Friday, the Thaung Yin River had reached 1,123 centimeters, according to measurements by the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology. The water level was 160 centimeters above the danger level of 963 centimeters.
Flooding began entering Wards 1, 2 and 5 on August 20. Local social rescue organizations have been helping residents move to safer areas. More than 500 flood-affected residents are currently sheltering at the Taw Ya Monastery’s Dhamma Hall, according to local sources.
“The rain has been heavy, so the water is rising quickly. It rose considerably in just one day yesterday and is still rising. Last night, we had to move people living in low-lying areas and near the river. For now, we have relocated them to a monastery,” a member of a local social rescue organization said.
The river level continues to rise. The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology has forecast that it could rise by about 5 feet over the next 24 hours and remain above the danger level.
