Boat accidents rise in Arakan State amid rough rainy season conditions 

By Admin 26 Jul 2023

DMG Newsroom
26 July 2023, Sittwe

Arakan State has seen an increase in capsizing boats due to strong winds and rough seas during the ongoing monsoon season, sometimes resulting in fatalities.

Two 60-year-old women, travelling from Natkanpyin Village in Minbya Township to Myebon to see their children, were swept away by unforgiving waters after their boat capsized on Tuesday. The pair are still missing, according to residents.

“They left around 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning. The tide was high then. The boat capsized, and the two were hit by waves as they didn’t cling to the boat,” said U Kyaw Aung from Natkanpyin Village.

Two men and five women were aboard the boat, and the others were able to survive  the capsizing.

Residents of Natkanpyin, Letpankaing and Yinchaung villages rely on boats to travel to Myebon. The creek that locals use to travel to Myebon is shallow and only navigable during high tide, making travel dicey, especially during the rainy season.

“The transportation network is poor in our area,” said information officer Ma Khin Hnin Phyu of the Yinchaung Youth Association. “Though we are in Minbya Township, it takes about five hours to go to Minbya town. So, we rely on Myebon. It is quite challenging to travel in the rainy season. Boats capsize every year.”

On July 21, a 50-year-old man died when his boat capsized while travelling from Mrauk-U to Minbya. There were two men and four women aboard, with the vessel capsizing amid severe weather, said Daw Oo Than Yi, the wife of the deceased.

“As we crossed the river, our boat was hit by a wave when we reached the middle. The boat capsized, and there was also strong wind from the east direction. Though other people could be saved in time, they could not save my husband,” she told DMG.

The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology has warned boat travellers to be aware of weather conditions before making travel plans, particularly during the rainy season.

Because Arakan State is largely coastal, it is more vulnerable to strong winds and rough seas on rainy days.

“It is best not to travel by motor boat. If it is necessary to travel, people should listen to weather reports first and take bigger vessels that can endure waves,” said U Hla Tun, director of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.