Section of Asian Highway linking Myawaddy and Kawkareik blocked due to landslides

By Admin 07 Aug 2023

DMG Newsroom
7 August 2023, Kawkareik, Kayin State
 
Traffic has been temporarily suspended after a section of the Asian Highway linking Myawaddy and Kawkareik townships in Kayin State was blocked by landslides triggered by heavy rains on Monday morning.
 
At press time, the road section between Tawnaw Waterfall and Mt. Yinkhwe on the Kawkareik-Myawaddy road was blocked for vehicular movement due to a massive landslide.
 
“Torrential rains caused landslides along the Kawkareik-Myawaddy road section. The Kawkareik-Myawaddy road section is blocked for vehicular movement due to a massive landslide,” said an official from a social organisation in Thingannyinaung town.
 
A home-used car and a cargo truck were buried in the debris during the landslide, but their occupants were not injured.
 
“Two vehicles got stuck under the debris during the landslide, but no one was injured. Rescue workers are trying our best to retrieve vehicles under the debris,” said a passenger bus driver plying a route between Yangon and Myawaddy.
 
Residents said that the damaged part of the road has not been repaired yet, so Yangon-Myawaddy road traffic has been temporarily suspended.
 
“According to the current situation, it may take months to repair the road. Some passenger buses use the old road, but we don’t know exactly whether the old road is safe or not due to heavy rains. The transportation of goods on this road has been stopped for the time being,” said a border merchant in Myawaddy.
 
Hundreds of vehicles were still trapped by the road blockage as of press time.
 
The Asian Highway, linking Myawaddy and Kawkareik townships, is an important route for Myanmar’s eastern border trade.