Mizzima News

Chiang Mai - Incessant monsoon rain has left Burma's former capital and commercial hub Rangoon water-logged, causing life to come to a standstill, local residents said.

The main commercial districts of Rangoon's downtown area such as Sule Pagoda, Seikkantha street, Tarmwe 50th street and Bothathaung Township, have been waterlogged due to incessant rain that started at 2 AM (local time) on Wednesday.

"The rain has not stopped since this morning. Everywhere is flooded with water almost knee high," a resident of Kandawkalay ward in Minglar Taungnyunt Township of Rangoon told Mizzima.

In some parts of the city's suburbs such as South Okklapa Township, water has risen above knee-height, residents said.  Moreover, water has also covered areas such as Thingakyun Township, which is relatively higher and has never been affected by floods.

"In Thingan Kyun Township, we have never faced floods, but now we can see water everywhere," a local resident said.

Residents said the floods had brought the city to a near standstill as no vehicles could ply on the roads, which are filled with water.

However, with the rain stopping in the afternoon, the water level is going down, though the roads are still to surface, residents said.

"The flood waters have blocked the traffic and it has become a problem as we cannot use the roads. But, now with the rain stopping, the water level is going down. However, in the morning the rain had covered most of the area," a local resident in Siekkanthar street said.

Similarly, several other townships including Hlaing Tharyar, Shwepyithar, and Hlathar were also waterlogged by the continuous rain.

Rangoon, in early May, was severely damaged by Cyclone Nargis, which lashed the city with a wind speed of 120 kilometres per hour. However, so far there have been no reports of damage caused by the rain and flood on Wednesday.