ENGLISH DEYEA NEWS

By MIN LWIN | Heavy rains in recent weeks have caused rivers to overflow and farms to flood in Pegu Division, according to local residents.

“The Sittaung and Pegu rivers have overflowed,” said Myat Hla from Pegu Township. “Hundreds of acres of fertile farmland have been destroyed by flooding.

“I didn’t hear any reports of causalities as yet, but the paddy fields are all under water,” he added.

According to locals in Pegu Division, hundreds of farms around Pegu, Shwe Kyin, Madauk, Pyuntansir and Nyaunglaybin townships were damaged in the floods sweeping through villages located along the Sittaung River during the last two weeks.

Rising water levels in the Sittaung River have forced thousands of farmers in Pegu Division to replant their fields in recent weeks, a local resident told The Irrawaddy by telephone on Friday.

“Most of farmers had already sown their fields,” he said. “Now they have to plant and fertilize the fields all over again.”

Heavy rains hit Burma last month, causing the Chindwin, Sittaung and Pegu rivers to overflow and inundate hundreds of villages’ farmlands.

The Chindwin River, which flows from North to South, also overflowed farther north in Ahlone, near Monywa Township, Sagaing Division.

A Monywa resident said that it had been raining heavily in the upper Chindwin River region for several days.

Residents in Ahlone said that the banks of the Chindwin River burst and water overflowed into the town. High waters also broke the Sitpin embankment which was built along the riverside in Ahone, killing some cattle. No other casualties have been reported.

In Monywa Township, the current of the Chindwin River was flowing 93cm above the danger level, residents said.

“People with houses and shops along the river have moved to safer places,” a Monywa resident said.

According to the Burmese Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, the water level of the Chindwin River has become dangerous at Mawlaik, Kalewa and Monywa townships.