By Sayar Ngaat / MPA
Southern Shan State’s Kalaw Township is grappling with a severe flood crisis, with around 200 residents reported missing due to floods and landslides, according to residents and rescue volunteers.
Flooding began in Kalaw on 10 September 2024, submerging lower-lying wards entirely, according to a female resident of the town.
“Up until today, we are still collecting the death toll. Over 100 have been confirmed dead, and more than 200 are missing. Since the Office of Immigration and Population Department is underwater, exact numbers are not yet available. Most of the bodies we’ve found were victims who drowned in the floodwaters,” she said.
Rescue volunteers said that while the floodwaters began to recede on 14 September, many people remain missing, especially in the worst-hit areas of Wards 2, 3, and 4, where the impact of the flooding was most severe.
“The water in the town has receded. It started going down yesterday, but there are still over 100 missing, likely around 200. The hardest-hit areas are the low-lying wards of 2, 3, and 4, where the flood and landslides were at their worst. These areas have been severely impacted,” said Ko Aung Nyein Chan, a rescue volunteer operating in Kalaw.
Kalaw is currently facing power outages, and telephone and internet connections are cut off. Residents affected by the flood are in urgent need of clothing and food, according to rescue teams.
“Right after the flooding began, we couldn’t even distribute food packs. Shops were completely submerged, with some people forced to escape through the roofs of their houses. Many possessions were swept away. With the power lines falling down, there is no electricity at all. We urgently need candles, blankets, and warm clothes as it’s very cold here,” Ko Aung Chan added.
Furthermore, numerous landslides and broken bridges are hindering rescue efforts and posing additional challenges for relief operations in Kalaw.
Although reports suggest that nearly 100 people have died due to the floods and landslides in Kalaw, rescue teams have only recovered 13 bodies as of now.
Across the country, the State Administration Council’s (SAC) Ministry of Information reported on 14 September that 74 people had died, and 89 were missing across 64 townships due to the floods. However, independent media outlets claim the death toll may be closer to 200.
Earlier this year, in early July, severe floods also struck Myanmar, affecting 12 towns across four states and regions, leaving tens of thousands of people displaced.
One of the worst flood events in Myanmar’s history occurred in July 2015, when 12 out of the country’s 14 states and regions were affected by widespread flooding. More than 100 people lost their lives, over 40,000 households were displaced, and 1.6 million people were affected. The floods destroyed over 700,000 acres of farmland, and economic losses were estimated at 165 billion kyats, according to the official announcement of President U Thein Sein’s regime.
Flooding in Myanmar is most common during the monsoon season, which runs from June to October, with the heaviest rains typically occurring in July and August.