Nearly 120,000 people have been displaced after floods submerged a vast swathe of southeastern Myanmar, killing 11 people and sending panicked residents fleeing for dry ground with children perched on their shoulders and few belongings in tow.

An official told AFP on Tuesday over 118,000 people have taken refuge in 285 camps so far, as the toll climbed to 11 dead -- including three solders -- with more deaths feared.

Swirling, muddy waters reached thatched-roofed homes and wiped out farmland in four provinces as officials scrambled to set up rescue centres amid continued torrential rains on Tuesday.

Rescuers in boats tried to pluck people from floodwaters in Hpa-an in Karen state while other residents tried to escape by any means possible, balancing on makeshift rafts or wading out carrying children and plastic bags of goods.

"There could be a few more casualties but we are still collecting the information," Social Welfare Ministry Director Phyu Lei Lei Tun said.

"Water is going down in some places. But we do not know how long the disaster will last." Meanwhile five others were confirmed killed in a landslide triggered by heavy rains in Kawthaung township in Myanmar's southern tip.

Evacuation orders are still in place for many flood-stricken areas with a number of rivers exceeding danger levels by several feet and 36 dams and reservoirs overflowing, state-backed Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported.

The Mekong region has been battered by particularly heavy monsoon rains this year, causing devastating floods that have forced thousands to flee and wiped out homes and farmland.

Heavy rains caused a massive dam in southern Laos to collapse last week, wiping out entire villages and killing at least 11 -- though earlier official tolls initially put the number as high as 27.Floodwaters from that catastrophe seeped into Cambodia and forced thousands from their homes.

Rescuers are still searching for survivors in southern Laos more than a week after the dam collapse, with Thai, South Korean and Chinese specialists joining efforts to find scores still missing.</s>Evacuation orders have been issued in several areas, while some 163 camps have been set up for displaced people in southern, eastern and central parts country

BAGO, Myanmar – Rising floodwaters have killed at least 5 people and forced tens of thousands from their homes across swathes of Myanmar, a government official told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Sunday, as heavy monsoon rains continue to batter the Mekong region.

Dramatic images showed vast areas of farmland completely submerged in muddy waters stretching to the horizon, with only the rooftops of some houses visible.

Some stranded people were plucked from the churning inundations by rescuers in boats, while others waded through waist-deep water to escape, carrying children on their shoulders while trying to keep precious belongings out of the water.

"There are more than 54,000 displaced people affected by the flooding around the country," a Ministry of Social Welfare official told AFP.

The official confirmed that 5 people had been killed but said this figure was expected to rise.

Evacuation orders had been issued in several areas, while some 163 camps have been set up for displaced people in southern, eastern and central parts country.

The floods in Myanmar come as a particularly heavy monsoon continues to pummel the region, bringing downpours that contributed to the collapse of a dam last week in Laos, which left scores dead or missing.

Myanmar is hit by severe flooding every year and climate scientists in 2015 ranked it top of a global list of nations hardest hit by extreme weather.

That year more than 100 people died in floods that also displaced hundreds of thousands across the country.

Myanmar's worst natural disaster of recent times was Cyclone Nargis, which lashed huges stretches of the country's coast, leaving at least 138,000 dead or missing in May 2008. – Rappler.com</s>BAGO, Myanmar: Rising floodwaters have killed at least five people and forced tens of thousands from their homes across swathes of Myanmar, a government official told AFP on Sunday, as heavy monsoon rains continue to batter the Mekong region.

Dramatic images showed vast areas of farmland completely submerged in muddy waters stretching to the horizon, with only the rooftops of some houses visible.

Some stranded people were plucked from the churning inundations by rescuers in boats, while others waded through waist-deep water to escape, carrying children on their shoulders while trying to keep precious belongings out of the water.

“There are more than 54,000 displaced people affected by the flooding around the country,” a Ministry of Social Welfare official told AFP.

The official confirmed that five people had been killed but said this figure was expected to rise.

 Evacuation orders had been issued in several areas, while some 163 camps have been set up for displaced people in southern, eastern and central parts country.

The floods in Myanmar come as a particularly heavy monsoon continues to pummel the region, bringing downpours that contributed to the collapse of a dam last week in Laos, which left scores dead or missing.

Myanmar is hit by severe flooding every year and climate scientists in 2015 ranked.—AFP</s>Myanmar floods kill at least 10, force 54,000 people from homes

BAGO, Myanmar: Surging floodwaters have killed at least 10 people and forced tens of thousands from their homes across swathes of Myanmar, a government official said on Sunday as more heavy monsoon rain battered the region.

Vast areas of farmland have been submerged by muddy water stretching to the horizon, with only the rooftops of some houses visible. Some stranded people were plucked from the churning waters by rescuers in boats, while volunteers used rafts made from barrels and pieces of wood.

Other flood victims waded through waist-deep water to escape, carrying children on their shoulders while trying to keep precious belongings out of the water. "There have been 10 people killed by the floods", a Ministry of Social Welfare official told AFP on condition of anonymity, adding that the figure included three soldiers whose deaths were confirmed on Sunday.

"There are more than 54,000 displaced people affected by the flooding around the country". Evacuation orders had been issued in several areas, while some 163 camps have been set up for displaced people in southern, eastern and central parts of the country.

"There are normally floods, but not like this year. This year is the worst ever," said Myint Myint Than, one of the hundreds taking refuge in a shelter in Bago. Others are holding firm, refusing to leave their flooded homes in spite of the warnings from authorities.

"I’m not going to the shelter yet because some shelters don’t have any places left. But if the flooding gets any worse than this, I will have to escape," Khin Mar Yee told AFP through the upper window of her submerged house.</s>Surging floodwaters have killed at least 10 people and forced tens of thousands from their homes across swathes of Myanmar, a government official said Sunday as more heavy monsoon rain battered the region.

Vast areas of farmland have been submerged by muddy water stretching to the horizon, with only the rooftops of some houses visible.

Some stranded people were plucked from the churning waters by rescuers in boats, while volunteers used rafts made from barrels and pieces of wood.

Other flood victims waded through waist-deep water to escape, carrying children on their shoulders while trying to keep precious belongings out of the water.

"There have been 10 people killed by the floods," a Ministry of Social Welfare official told AFP on condition of anonymity, adding that the figure included three soldiers whose deaths were confirmed on Sunday.

"There are more than 54,000 displaced people affected by the flooding around the country."

Evacuation orders had been issued in several areas, while some 163 camps have been set up for displaced people in southern, eastern and central parts of the country.

"There are normally floods, but not like this year. This year is the worst ever," said Myint Myint Than, one of the hundreds taking refuge in a shelter in Bago.

Others are holding firm, refusing to leave their flooded homes in spite of the warnings from authorities.

"I'm not going to the shelter yet because some shelters don't have any places left. But if the flooding gets any worse than this, I will have to escape," Khin Mar Yee told AFP through the upper window of her submerged house.

The floods in Myanmar come as a particularly heavy monsoon pummels the region, bringing downpours that contributed to the collapse of a dam last week in Laos, which left scores dead or missing.

Myanmar is hit by severe flooding every year and climate scientists in 2015 ranked it top of a global list of nations hardest hit by extreme weather.

That year more than 100 people died in floods that also displaced hundreds of thousands across the country.

Myanmar's worst natural disaster of recent times was Cyclone Nargis, which lashed huge stretches of the country's coast and left at least 138,000 dead or missing in May 2008.</s>Naypyidaw, July 31 (IANS) At least 10 people have been killed and more than 100,000 people forced to flee their homes after heavy rains pounded Myanmar and flooded villages, according to government officials.

As of Tuesday, some 119,000 people across five provinces had been displaced by rising waters, with Magway region particularly hard hit, with more than 70,000 affected, CNN quoted Min Thein, Director of the Disaster Management Agency, as saying.

Images released by the Ministry of Information show rescue boats evacuating people, while children and families cling to rooftops to escape rising water levels.

However, attempts to reach many of those affected have been hampered by heavy rains.

Many of those displaced have been relocated to temporary shelters, with both monasteries and cyclone shelters opening their doors to families, according to the National Disaster Management Committee (NDMC).

Additional shelters would be opened for pregnant women and women with young children, said the Committee.

Parts of Myanmar flood annually during the monsoon. In 2015, seasonal flooding killed around 100 and displaced more than 200,000 people.</s>At least 10 people have been killed and some 50,000 others displaced in Myanmar after monsoon rains caused flooding across four of the country's states over the weekend, according to a government official. 

 

"We have provided boats and lifejackets for people affected by the flooding and arranged temporary shelter," Phyu Lai Lai Htun, director of the department of disaster management, told DPA news agency on Monday. 

 

The water level is now stable in two of the states and was receding in Mon and Bago states, near Yangon, according to the official.

An estimated 100,000 people may have been affected by the floods.



 

The floods have not been as severe as those in 2015 when around 100 people reportedly died and more than 330,000 were forced from their homes.

But the United Nations in Myanmar said in a statement on Saturday that it was "following with great concern the flooding and extensive devastation caused by heavy rains". 

 

"The UN in Myanmar is mobilising its partners, resources and capacity and is offering to provide support to the ongoing assistance delivered to the victims of the floods by the Government of Myanmar, civil society organisations, volunteers and other partners," UN resident humanitarian coordinator Knut Ostby said.</s>"There could be a few more casualties but we are still collecting the information," Social Welfare Ministry Director Phyu Lei Lei Tun said. "Water is going down in some places. But we do not know how long the disaster will last."

Nearly 120,000 people have been displaced after floods submerged a vast swathe of southeastern Myanmar, killing 11 people and sending panicked residents fleeing for dry ground with children perched on their shoulders and few belongings in tow. An official told AFP today over 118,000 people have taken refuge in 285 camps so far, as the toll climbed to 11 dead - including three soldiers - with more deaths feared. Swirling, muddy waters reached thatched-roofed homes and wiped out farmland in four provinces as officials scrambled to set up rescue centres amid continued torrential rains today.

Rescuers in boats tried to pluck people from floodwaters in Hpa-an in Karen state while other residents tried to escape by any means possible, balancing on makeshift rafts or wading out carrying children and plastic bags of goods. "There could be a few more casualties but we are still collecting the information," Social Welfare Ministry Director Phyu Lei Lei Tun said. "Water is going down in some places. But we do not know how long the disaster will last."

Meanwhile, five others were confirmed killed in a landslide triggered by heavy rains in Kawthaung township in Myanmar's southern tip.

Evacuation orders are still in place for many flood-stricken areas with a number of rivers exceeding danger levels by several feet and 36 dams and reservoirs overflowing, state-backed Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported.

The Mekong region has been battered by particularly heavy monsoon rains this year, causing devastating floods that have forced thousands to flee and wiped out homes and farmland. Heavy rains caused a massive dam in southern Laos to collapse last week, wiping out entire villages and killing at least 11 -- though earlier official tolls initially put the number as high as 27.

Floodwaters from that catastrophe seeped into Cambodia and forced thousands from their homes.

Rescuers are still searching for survivors in southern Laos more than a week after the dam collapse, with Thai, South Korean and Chinese specialists joining efforts to find scores still missing.

Edited by mid-day online desk with inputs from PTI

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and <a title="mid-day iOS app"</s>BAGO (Myanmar)
• Surging flood waters have killed at least 10 people and forced tens of thousands from their homes across swathes of Myanmar, a government official said yesterday as more heavy monsoon rain battered the region.

Vast areas of farmland completely submerged in muddy waters stretched to the horizon, with only the rooftops of some houses visible. Some stranded people were rescued by boat, while others waded through waist-deep water to escape, carrying children on their shoulders while trying to keep precious belongings out of the water.

"There have been 10 people killed by the floods," a Ministry of Social Welfare official said, adding that the figure included three soldiers whose deaths were confirmed yesterday. "There are more than 54,000 displaced people affected by the flooding," the official added.

Evacuation orders had been issued in several areas, while some 163 camps have been set up for displaced people in southern, eastern and central parts of the country.

The floods in Myanmar come as a particularly heavy monsoon continues to pummel the region, bringing downpours that contributed to the collapse of a dam last week in Laos, which left scores dead or missing.</s>At least five people have been killed and over 95,000 people have been forced to flee their homes by widespread flooding in seven states and regions during the past week, the Disaster Management Department said.It said two people died in the floods in Magwe, and one each in Tanintharyi, Bago and Nay Pyi Taw.Sagaing and Ayeyarwady regions, and Mon and Kayin states were also hits by flooding, the department said.On Thursday, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi visited Hpa-an township in Kayin to console evacuees, and on Saturday,Knut Ostby, United Nations resident coordinator in Myanmar, expressed great concern about the flooding and devastation of the country caused by heavy rain."My thoughts are with the families whose lives have been impacted by the floods. I'm alarmed by the destruction of property, infrastructure & agricultural land," he said in a statement issued by his office."The UN in Myanmar is mobilising its partners, resources and capacity and is offering to provide support to the ongoing assistance delivered to the victims of the floods by the Government of Myanmar, civil society organisations, volunteers and other partners," it added.U Kyaw Moe Oo, director general of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, warned of more rain in the coming week.The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology advised people living by the river and in low lying areas in Thabaung to take necessary precautions against flash floods. Thabaung is flooded every year.Several roads have also been affected. The Yangon-Mawlamyine highway was cut off at Bilin township in Mon State by a mountain torrent and tidal water.While Bilin did not experience heavy rain, the township was flooded due to the mountain torrent, according to rescue teams helping to evacuate people.The current was very strong in Bilin creek, according to Ma Sun Myat Pan, a passenger on a motorised boat from nearby Thaton township.Thousands of people are trapped in Thaton, and although there are food supplies, they would soon run out because of the huge number of people trapped in the township."Everyone wants to get out of there, so they just take whatever they can get. Those who came from Myawaddy are also trapped. There is water everywhere," Ma Sun Myat Pan said.Rescuers said passengers on one motorised boat from Thaton heading to Bilin had to be rescued after the vessel's propeller broke on a tree stump."The people on the boat have been rescued," said a Tatmadaw (military) member carrying out rescue work.Three soldiers who were carrying out rescue work in Bilin township have been reported missing.The Mon government stopped buses from leaving their terminals on Friday due to the heavy rain."There may be about 300 vehicles trapped at the township entrance. We have to wait and cannot do anything because it is a natural disaster," said a driver, whose car was among those trapped.The state government blocked the road for fear that the river level could rise at anytime.Trucks cannot pass through Mon, Kayin and Tanintharyi due to the floods and volunteers distributed food to the trapped travellers.
11 people died and 54,000 others are displaced when floods hits Myanmar.