Myanmar Television still down in Rangoon

by Mizzima News

Sunday, 04 May 2008 18:29

Chiang Mai – It will take a few more days more until Myanmar Television will be restored in Rangoon, according to officials concerned with the matter. Since category 4 cyclone Nargis struck Rangoon on Saturday, a government controlled Myanmar Television has been off the air in Rangoon due to damage to communication poles and flooding. Presently, only broadcasts via satellite are available. Authorities are still trying to clear fallen tress and debris from the compound of the broadcast station office in Rangoon, while simultaneously making preparations to resume broadcasting. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, added that there would be no MRTV-4 and MRTV-5 broadcasted programs in and around Rangoon for at least a few days. Moreover, Myawaddy Television is also unavailable for Rangoon residents, while a majority of phone lines remain out of service. "We are trying our best to resume broadcasting. We hope it will be done in the next few days", the official said. However Rangoon-Mandalay domestic flights were today resumed by Air Bagan shortly after noon. One airport employee at Mandalay Airport confirmed with Mizzima that two flights to Rangoon occurred on Sunday, at 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. However Yangon Airways and Myanmar Airways have yet to resume their scheduled flights. "We have not received any instruction from higher officers about whether our airline will resume flights this evening or not," said an employee of Myanmar Airways. International carriers are hoping to resume operations tomorrow. Thai-based airlines informed their passengers to come to the airport on Monday morning. < Prev