Mizzima News

Chiang Mai – Flood waters from the Irrawaddy River has entered and inundated five villages in Sagaing Division in central Burma.

The low lying villages along the bank of Irrawaddy River, south of Mingun Township, Thayetpinseik, Letpan, Htantaw, Kyethaung and Ahlaung were inundated by flood water that reaches up to the fences of houses in the village.

"Normally, the water usually reaches only the banyan trees at the edge of our village. But this time, it has reached fences in the village. It's been four or five days but the water is yet to recede," a resident from Letpan village said.

Similarly in Ye Oo, Sagaing Division, incessant rain led to drain water overflowing into residential areas, a local resident said.

"The water from the drain overflowed into the residential areas. If the dam is unable to contain the water in heavy rain, the water usually overflows into the town. The town was once flooded three years ago," a local resident in Ye Oo said.

The Irrawaddy River has touched the danger level in Thabaung village in Amarapura Township, Mandalay Division.

"The water has touched the danger level in Amarapura, Mandalay Division. I heard that the water reached the Thabaung village danger level also. So has the Taungthaman Lake. The water has reached the shoulder of the highway in our town," a local resident from Amarapura said.

"There is no flood here. We are just releasing water from the main spillway to control the water level. We don't release water from canals, but from sluice gates," an official from the Thaphan reservoir in Sagaing Division told Mizzima when contacted over telephone.

On Thursday the weather report carried in the government-owned 'New Light of Myanmar' newspaper, the forecast said there will be scattered rain in and around Mandalay Division and Naypyitaw and occasional thunder showers.

The Meteorology Department told Mizzima that there will be scattered rain in Sagaing Division when contacted over telephone.