By Zwe Ko / MPA

The Gamone Dams in Thayarwaddy District, Bago Region, has reached full capacity. However, challenges have emerged due to the fleeing of the irrigation staff under the State Administration Council (SAC), according to information from local resistance forces.

Since 2023, irrigation staff under SAC have fled the Gamone and Kantinbeelin Dams in Thayarwaddy District. Following their departure, resistance forces have been working to maintain the reservoirs to prevent breaches.

Due to continuous rainfall in recent days, the Gamone Dam in Okpho Township has reached its full capacity, with debris accumulating, posing a risk of dam failure, said an official of the Underground Guerrilla Force, no.4 company of no.3802 Battalion of People Defence Force – Thayarwaddy District (PDF-Thayarwaddy).

“The staff should have fulfilled their duties. They should not have abandoned their responsibilities and fled. We, the resistance forces, are only fighting the SAC Army; we have not threatened or endangered them,” the official said.

Currently, troops of SAC Army and Pyu Saw Htee militias are stationed at the Minhla Dam in Okpho Township, and it is possible that the fleeing irrigation staff from the Gamone Dam are also there, according to a local man in his 40s from Okpho Township.

“It seems that staff do not dare to stay at the dam where there are no soldiers. I heard that they were recalled by SAC Army. The Gamone Reservoir in Okpho is vast, and if the dam is breached without the PDF knowing, not only will the lives, homes, and properties of the people be destroyed, but also their farmlands,” he said.

There are over seven dams in Thayarwaddy District, including the Gamone, Minhla, Thekaw, Bawbin, Kantinbeelin, and Thonesae dams. Due to the heavy rainfall this month, the irrigation staff managed to release excess water from the reservoirs, according to a former irrigation employee.

“The water levels are not too high. Only the lower parts have experienced slight increases. In recent days, the water levels have decreased again. Normally, having staff constantly monitor the reservoirs ensures better management. Otherwise, there could be risks. We have to inspect the reservoirs once or twice a day. During seasons with heavy rainfall like this, there is greater concern. Trees can block the dam’s structures, and falling trees could cause drains to break down,” the former employee explained.
The dams in Thayarwaddy District are situated within the Bago Yoma mountain range, an area frequently affected by clashes between resistance forces and SAC Army. Due to the ongoing conflict, many irrigation and forestry staff, as well as elephant handlers, have fled the area, with some seeking refuge with resistance forces, according to ground sources.

Since 10 September 2024, heavy rains have swept across Myanmar due to the remnants of Typhoon Yagi, leading to the overflow of dams and reservoirs, resulting in flooding in many areas as river levels surged.

The flooding has affected 56 townships across Naypyidaw, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Ayeyarwady, Kayah, Karen, Mon, and Shan regions. SAC announced on 18 September that 268 people had died, and 88 others were missing as a result of the flooding.