Over 1,000 households in Kachin State have been evacuated as the level of the Ayeyawady River rises, the Myanmar Fire Services Department said on 2 June.

A total of 55,117 people from 1,165 households have been relocated as of 2 June, it stated.

Rescue teams from the Myanmar Red Cross Society, MSFD and officials are continuing to evacuate locals in low-lying areas of Kachin State since the flooding began on 31 May.

“The Maykha River is already rising. Those living downstream should be especially careful of the flood. The water will reach Myitkyina in the next day,” said a resident of Redam village in Khaunglanphu Township on 1 June.

If the Maykha and Malikha are flooded, the water can reach Hinthada in the delta in about 13 days.

“If the Maykha Malikha confluence as well as the Chindwin in Homalin are flooded at the same time, the water will reach Hinthada on the 3rd waning or waxing day. Draining two-thirds of Myanmar, the Ayeyawady cannot carry all the water for long. There are only two helping auxiliary rivers – Ngawan and Myit Makha called the Hlaing River in lower Myanmar. If all these conditions are met, the Ayeyawady and the western Bago will be flooded,” said a person monitoring the river levels.

The Ayeyawady River in Myitkyina rose about two inches above the danger level on 2 June, and the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology has warned residents living in low-lying areas and along the riverbanks in Myitkyina Township to evacuate as soon as possible.

Htun Htun/ZN

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