Floods disrupt transport services in Arakan State

By Admin 08 Aug 2023

DMG Newsroom
8 August 2023, Sittwe

Flooding in many parts of Arakan State has brought many road and river transport services in the western Myanmar state to a halt.

As townships along the Sittwe-Yangon road are suffering from floods, passenger buses operating between Sittwe-Kyauktaw-Mrauk-U-Minbya as well as between Myebon, Ann, Taungup and Thandwe townships have temporarily suspended operations since Monday.

“The road has been flooded since last evening. The road near Maha Myat Muni Buddha image is completely inundated. So, most bus drivers do not operate today,” said U Kyaw Naing Che, a Sittwe-Mrauk-U passenger bus driver.

All the boat services along the Sittwe-Kyaukphyu-Ramree-Taungup route have also been suspended since Tuesday due to heavy rain accompanied by floods and strong winds.

Manager U San Maw Thein of Shwe Pyi Than express boat line said: “The weather was terrible, and so were the waves. So, we didn’t operate today. We will operate tomorrow for customers who have bought tickets today.”

The express boat line will resume operations depending on the weather, said U San Maw Thein.

According to a weather report issued by the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology on Tuesday, the water level in the Lemyo River was on pace to reach above its danger level by the following day.

The Lemyo River has also flooded the road linking Mrauk-U and Minbya near Myaungbwe Village, where some vehicles are stuck.

“I drove from Minbya to Mrauk-U this morning to send passengers. But, I can’t go back now, water flows in a torrent, and the water level continues to rise,” said Ko Kyaw Paing Soe, a Mrauk-U-Minbya passenger bus driver.

Around 20 vehicles including ambulances heading to Sittwe were also stuck on the road near Kyeinchaung Village in Ann Township.

Ko Hpar Ma Che of the Shwe Yaung Metta Foundation told DMG: “We are transporting a patient on oxygen therapy. The water came down in a torrent from the mountain, and the water level has reached three feet above the ground. We are stuck.”

Thousands of people have been affected by floods in Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Minbya, Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Taungup and Thandwe townships due to continuous rains since August 1.

According to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, heavy rains are expected along the coast of Arakan State for the next few days.