Reports of a dam breach near Hlaymyethna Township, Ayeyarwady Region, with residents relocating to safer areas

Reports have emerged that a dam near Hlaymyethna Township in Ayeyarwady Region has breached, and residents are relocating to safer areas. A local resident from Hlaymyethna Township stated, "Information came out this evening that the dam breached while officials were trying to protect the weakened section. The location is between Myitkyoe and Mathikone. That area is only one and a half miles from the town. It is adjacent to Kyunthe, Myitkyoe, and Ward No. 5. Local residents are relocating to safer areas." An official from a social assistance organization said, "Fire brigade members from Hinthada have also joined to assist in the emergency protection of the dam. We have heard reports of the dam breaching, and some people are relocating to safer areas. We understand that officials are carrying out dam protection efforts. As we are not present in that area, we cannot definitively say whether the dam has breached or not." Eleven Media is still attempting to contact U Kyaw Win Naing, the Chairman of the Dam Related Joint Committee and the Regional Parliament Member for Hlaymyethna Township Constituency, to obtain detailed information. According to video footage posted on social media by some residents of Hlaymyethna Township in Ayeyarwady Region, water can be seen flowing from the dam. As of the latest information received around 12 AM, town elders have confirmed the dam breach, and there are calls on social media for people to relocate to safer areas. According to a nighttime press release from the Ayeyarwady Region Fire Brigade, a sand sinkhole occurred in Myitkyoe Village, Thakhut Chaung Village Tract, Hlaymyethna Township, at Tamai (25/3), causing a subsidence of approximately 30 feet in length and 5 feet in height. Search and rescue team members, in cooperation with relevant organizations, are providing assistance. To prevent further subsidence of the dam during the night, work is continuing on driving stakes, stone pitching, sand filling, and sandbagging the weakened section of the dam. There has been no statement from the Ayeyarwady Region government regarding the dam breach.