October 9, 2023
In Bago Region, due to continuous heavy rainfall in Bago City, the river level has increased and almost the entire city is drowning and flood relief camps as well, according to residents of Bago City.
Due to the endless rain from the 7th to the 9th of October and the rising of the river level, nearly the entire city is flooded, and the residents are having difficulties in living and feeding. A man from the Ponna Su Ward in Bago said that the Shwe Nant Thar Monastery, which has been opened as a flood relief center, is also getting water.
“The streets in the downtown area are already flooded. I have seen the flood in the downtown area just once now. Now it is difficult to live in a monastery. We did not have time to collect the materials and move to a monastery by ourselves. Now, the flood relief camps in Shwe Nant Thar Monastery are flooded,” he said.
Another woman who lives in the market area said, “Even the center of the city where we live has never been flooded, and the water is about chest-deep. I live on the top of the 3rd floor of the house. I can’t go anywhere. Now I can’t buy any food. The electricity has been out since yesterday. We only eat bread, coffee, and some fruit which we bought before,” he said.
At present, the water in Bago City is gradually rising. Boats are also needed to help and rescue the local people, and elders who were trapped in some neighborhoods. Moreover, around 10,000 flood-affected people also need basic food items, said a member of the Ananing Mae Free Blood Donor Group.
“There are about 34 wards in Bago, 25 wards are full of water. Now the water continues to rise gradually. On the sides of Asian roads, some roads are waist-deep and other roads are head-deep. At present, what is needed for the flood are hovercrafts to be used as a social relief site. We need food for those who are in trouble. Now, we need boats and rafts to save the sick, the elderly, and children. We need to have hovercrafts first,” he said.
In addition, it is said that some internet lines and MPT phone lines in Bago are also down, and electricity has also been cut since October 8.
It is reported that the flood victims are being kept in 22 places that were opened as COVID-19 centers in the past, including the monasteries in the flood-evacuated areas, the Pinnyar Mon welfare Monastery, and Shwe Nant Thar Monastery in Bago City,
As a result of such flooding and water erosion, a section of the road near the Kokko section of Bago City’s bypass road was destroyed. Locals say that the water level is rising because the water is being released from Mazin Dam, Ahlaing Ni Dam, and Zounghtu Dam located 3 and 4 miles away from Bago City.
In 2023, Bago City experienced floods for the 4th time, and according to Bago residents, this is the first time that the downtown area of Bago City has experienced a record flooding situation this year.
News – Naw Phu Phu
Photo: CJ
Phar Si Than (People’s Radio Myanmar)
