5 rivers near warning level, warned of continued rain

Photo – A scene of flooding in Rakhine State. Myanmar is facing the possibility of continued rain across the country, with five major rivers approaching their warning levels, the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) under the interim military government announced today (July 10). Currently, some areas in Rakhine State are experiencing severe flooding due to heavy rainfall causing rivers to overflow. (CJ, Aung Min Myat Kyaw, Social Media) Yaung Ni (July 10) Mizzima. Myanmar is facing the possibility of continued rain across the country, with five major rivers approaching their warning levels, the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) under the interim military government announced today (July 10). The DMH stated that due to the potential strengthening of the monsoon over the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, rainfall is expected across Myanmar from this morning until July 18. Rain is possible in Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon Region, Bago Region, Upper Sagaing Region, Ayeyarwady Region, Tanintharyi Region, Kachin State, Kayin State, Chin State, Mon State, Rakhine State, and Shan State (Northern and Eastern), with the possibility of isolated heavy rainfall in some areas. "It has been raining heavily in Yangon for two days. It rains and then stops," said a Yangon resident. As Myanmar experiences consecutive days of rainfall, river water levels are also rising. According to the flood warning issued by the DMH today, the Salween River's water level in Mawlamyine is about one foot below its warning level and is expected to reach the warning level within the next day. The DMH has issued warnings that the Chindwin River's water level in Homalin, the Bee Lin River's water level in Bee Lin, the Shwe Gin River's water level in Shwe Gin, and the Sittang River's water level in Madauk could reach their respective warning levels within the next two days. "The Chindwin River's water level in Hkamti started rising on the evening of July 6 and has risen a total of 17 feet in over 3 days until this morning. It will continue to rise depending on the rainfall situation. It is advisable to evacuate low-lying areas in advance. Homalin has already been issued a warning by the DMH," wrote a Hkamti resident on social media. Currently, some areas in Rakhine State are experiencing severe flooding due to heavy rainfall causing rivers to overflow. Flooding is occurring in Mrauk U, Minbya, Myebon, Kyauk Taw, Ponnagyun, Maungdaw, Buthidaung, and Taungup townships, resulting in four deaths and affecting an estimated hundreds of thousands of residents. "It has been raining since yesterday until now. If the rain continues, more areas will be submerged. For now, there are no areas where the water is rising further. It is still a normal situation," Ko Wai Hnin Aung, who is assisting internally displaced persons in Rakhine State, told Mizzima this afternoon. According to U Win Naing, a meteorology observer, Rakhine State could experience the highest flood levels in 20 years, with flash floods and river overflows starting severely from July 10, and waterlogging potentially lasting for about two weeks. Furthermore, U Win Naing warned that due to the inflow of water from the upper reaches of the Sittang River basin, warning levels could be exceeded between July 19 and 22, leading to a risk of severe river overflow, and urged for preparations. Across Myanmar, since early July, increased rainfall has led to damage from floods, landslides, riverbank collapses, and strong winds. Additionally, as river water levels rise due to rainfall, residents living near riverbanks and in low-lying areas need to be cautious of rising river levels. Meteorological departments and experts are urging the public to continuously monitor and heed the rainfall and flood warnings issued by the meteorological departments during these days. Editor: Aung Kyaw Phyo