Myanmar hit with deadly floods

Rescuers in Myanmar are grappling with rapidly rising water levels as deadly floods inundate the western states of Rakhine and Chin. The deluge has claimed at least three lives, according to the latest figures released by the Arakan Army, an ethnic minority rebel group that controls the affected territory.

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Our concern is what happens if the water levels rise any further, especially when it comes to evacuating the elderly, the sick, pregnant people and those living in low-lying areas.

Local rescuers express grave concern over the potential for further water level increases. "Our concern is what happens if the water levels rise any further, especially when it comes to evacuating the elderly, the sick, pregnant people and those living in low-lying areas," Bo Aung Thein, a rescuer in She Ta Lay village, told AFP.

The situation is compounded by Myanmar's ongoing civil war, which has gripped the nation since the military coup in 2021. These internal conflicts have created significant transport and communication difficulties, leaving more than a third of the population facing food insecurity, according to United Nations data.

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Our village has around 200 houses, and only one or two left unsubmerged. The rest have been flooded. All the paddy fields are submerged too.

Residents describe widespread devastation. May Thein Yaine, a 49-year-old from Kyauk Kyat village, reported that only one or two houses remained unsubmerged out of approximately 200, with all paddy fields also under water. "We have little kids at home. I’m terrified that if the water rises any higher again at night, we’ll have nowhere left to shelter and no way to escape," said 24-year-old Thuzar Aye, highlighting the immediate fear for safety and shelter.

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We have little kids at home. I’m terrified that if the water rises any higher again at night, we’ll have nowhere left to shelter and no way to escape.