Three Muslims drown in Mrauk-U Twsp flooding

By Admin 05 Aug 2024

DMG Newsroom
5 August 2024, Kyauktaw

Three Muslims from Mrauk-U Township have drowned after heavy rains and high tides inundated hundreds of villages in Arakan State’s Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U and Minbya townships.

Chawri, a 25-year-old Muslim man from Pipinyin Village, drowned in the Laymyo River on August 3 while collecting firewood that was floating along the riverbank.

“When he gathered the firewood and swam to this side, the current was strong and he was unable to continue swimming and drowned. His body was discovered on farmland near Laungkyet Village,” said a resident of Pipinyin Village.

The same day, two Muslims from Hsithae Village were swept away and died due to the collapse of the Laymyo River bank.

“The current was so strong that the bank of the river collapsed and both of them were swept away by the current and died,” said a local resident.

The deceased have been identified as Diluugyi, 50, and Runabi, 7. The riverbank erosion also destroyed 24 homes in Hsithae Village.

Many houses and farms were damaged in the flooding elsewhere as well, and local Muslims are asking for emergency aid.

“We want the concerned officials to arrange accommodations for those whose homes have been damaged. Otherwise, those who lost their homes will suffer a lot,” said another Hsithae villager.

Floodwaters receded on Sunday, but many villagers in the affected townships were forced to move to higher ground, and flood victims say they remain in need of drinking water, food and healthcare.