Kyauktaw boy drowns

14 Jul 2019

Khaing Roe La | DMG 

July 14, Kyauktaw 

Heavy flooding in Kyauktaw Township claimed the life of a 16-year-old boy on July 13, residents said.

Soe Min Naing from Buthee Taung village in Kyauk Ta Lone village tract in Kyauktaw Township was caught up by the fast-flowing water as he tried to cross a bridge between Thayat Tapin and Shwe Talae villages. 

While residents were able to pull Soe Min Naing from the water and send him to Kyauktaw hospital, his life could not be saved, said U Bo Aung Thein, the chairman of Shwe Kayunar Charity Youth Blood Donators Group based in Thayat Tapin village, Kyauktaw Township. 

“The bridge that traverses the creek between Thayat Tapin and Shwe Talae villages is swamped with water. When he crossed it, he was washed away by the force of the water and drowned. When people near the bridge rescued him, he was still alive so we sent him to hospital but he passed away at around 3pm,” said U Bo Aung Thein. 

Ma Aye Aye Thwey, one of the residents who was trying to pull him out of the water, said they found him in the afternoon. 

“He was caught up in the strong currants at about 11am near the bridge. We started a search and found him nearby and sent him to hospital. He died after arriving at the hospital,” said Ma Aye Aye Thwey, who lives in Buthee Taung village. 

Flooding in Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U and Minbya townships in Arakan State has affected many communities and forced over 9,500 people to leave their homes, according to government officials.

But there are over 100,000 residents and war refuges now affected by recent flooding in those townships according to the local CBOs and Members of Parliament (MPs). 

Some parts of the Yangon-Sittwe Highway have also been flooded, making transportation difficult.