A major effort was under way to reach thousands of people trapped in their homes after a dam swollen by monsoon rain overflowed early Wednesday in central Myanmar, officials said. More than 50,000 people in central Myanmar were forced to evacuate their homes on Wednesday after heavy seasonal rains caused a dam to overflow. A surge of water inundated the rural flatland in Bago region after the Swar Chaung dam spillway, which regulates the release of water, collapsed due to heavy seasonal rain. AFP reporters travelling with a rescue boat described how some people waded out through chest-deep water to get to higher ground while others crammed onto trucks and tractors to reach safety. Many others remained trapped in their half-submerged homes as soldiers, police, firefighters and volunteers worked into the night to try to ferry residents out. Khin Myint, 45, told AFP of the terrifying moment when the wave of water hit. "The water came so fast into our village and we … [Read more...] about Myanmar dam overflow displaces thousands
Myanmar
Over 50,000 Myanmar people evacuate due to dam breach
(Residents negotiate a road after water from the Swar dam flooded villages in the Bago region of central Myanmar. (Source:AFP) Nay Pyi Taw (VNA) - More than 50,000 people have left their homes in central Myanmar after part of a dam failed on August 29 morning, inundating nearby areas and hindering traffic on a major highway, authorities said. … [Read more...] about Over 50,000 Myanmar people evacuate due to dam breach
Dam breakage causes serious flooding in Myanmar
Water from a breached dam has flooded communities in central Myanmar and blocked part of a highway linking the main cities of Yangon (Source: Internet) Hanoi (VNA) – Water from a breached dam has flooded communities in central Myanmar and blocked part of a highway linking the main cities of Yangon, Mandalay and the capital Naypyidaw. The Myanmar Fire Services Department said the dam broke in the morning of August 29, flushing water into the nearby town of Swar and two other villages. Water from the dam also spilled onto the Swar section of the Yangon-Mandalay highway, forcing authorities to close the road. The Myanmar fire department dispatched a fire brigade to the Swar irrigation dam. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Local media reported that the commander-in-chief of Myanmar’s army, Min Aung Hlaing, visited the flooded area. Myanmar’s heavy annual monsoon rains have caused widespread flooding, including the displacement of more than 100,000 … [Read more...] about Dam breakage causes serious flooding in Myanmar
UN leader calls for efforts to deal with humanitarian crisis in Myanmar
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (Photo: AP) New York (VNA) – Conditions in Rakhine state of Myanmar are not yet met for the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees to their places of origin or choice, said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Speaking at a UN meeting on Myanmar in New York on August 28, the UN leader called for coordination from members of the UN Security Council in urging Myanmar authorities to work with the UN and ensure that UN agencies and partners can access refugees immediately in an unlimited and effective manner. Guterres held that international cooperation is now the key for ensuring all supporting mechanisms are implemented in a realiable, transparent, equal, independent way and make sure all obligations of Myanmar to international law are observed. He also called for increasing international sponsorship for crisis response programme in Myanmar when capital for the work is still under … [Read more...] about UN leader calls for efforts to deal with humanitarian crisis in Myanmar
Huyen My receives warm welcome in Myanmar
Huyen My and her crew visited 20 cinemas in cities throughout Myanmar such as Monywa, Mandalay and Yangon to advertise for the movie “Bridge of Clouds” in which she is the lead actress. Huyen My receives a special gift from a local fan. A crowd of fans are eager to take photographs with Huyen My, and to get her autograph. My is warmly welcomed by many fans across the country. After a short-day trip to Myanmar, Huyen My will return to her job in Vietnam. My will soon grace TV screens across the nation as the host of finance news on Vietnam Television’s VTV1 channel. Huyen My and her crew visited 20 cinemas in cities throughout Myanmar such as Monywa, Mandalay and Yangon to advertise for the movie “Bridge of Clouds” in which she is the lead actress. Huyen My receives a special gift from a local fan. A crowd of fans are eager to take photographs with Huyen My, and to get her autograph. My is warmly … [Read more...] about Huyen My receives warm welcome in Myanmar