Riverbank erosion forces Minbya residents to relocate as heavy rains persist

By Admin 09 Jul 2026

DMG Newsroom

9 July 2026, Minbya

Continuous heavy rains across Arakan State have triggered flooding in several townships, including Kyauktaw, Mrauk U and Minbya, while strong currents in the Laymyo and Kaladan rivers are causing severe riverbank erosion and landslides, according to local residents.

In Minbya, persistent downpours and powerful currents in the Laymyo River have caused serious riverbank collapses.

Riverbank erosion is threatening areas near the jetty and several wards in Minbya, including U Soe Tint, Pyidawtha, Pyidawhla, Shwepyisoe and Minbargyi.

"One house in U Soe Tint Ward was swept into the river, forcing the family to dismantle what remained and rebuild on a temporary plot. Displaced residents are staying temporarily on vacant land or with friends and relatives. They have no land for permanent relocation, so they are rebuilding shelters using old timber, bamboo and corrugated iron sheets salvaged from their damaged homes," a Minbya resident said.

Residents living in temporary shelters said heavy rain and strong winds have left them concerned about the health of children and elderly people because many of the shelters leak and provide little protection from the weather.

Most houses along the banks of the Laymyo River are now hanging precariously over the eroded riverbank, placing residents at continued risk.

Local residents fear more homes could collapse as strong river currents continue to erode and weaken the riverbank.

"They are facing many difficulties. When flooding occurs, the current becomes extremely strong, and it is already powerful today. Water levels will continue to rise. The banks do not collapse as much while the water is rising, but once it recedes, the saturated soil becomes unstable, leaving the remaining houses at high risk of collapse," a local woman said.

Families who have lost their homes to riverbank erosion have been forced to seek temporary shelter because they cannot afford land for permanent resettlement.

Residents said retaining walls built in the past were unable to withstand the strong currents and were destroyed. They called for durable, long-term riverbank protection projects to be systematically implemented.

Heavy monsoon rains, triggered by a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal, have battered Arakan State since 4 July, causing widespread flooding in low-lying areas and communities near rivers and creeks.