Nearly 100 lakes used to store drinking water for more than 40 villages in Arakan State’s Minbya and Kyauktaw townships were flooded by heavy rain and swollen creeks and rivers, according to locals.

Two people drowned and two people went missing in Arakan State in the three days from August 5-7 due to continuous rains that brought rising tides in rivers and creeks, according to local people.

“The cattle were gathered on a small island, but all cattle were swept away by floodwaters. Some cattle were found alive. Now the water has receded,” said U Saw Than, the administrator of Layhnyintaung Village.

The bodies of 11 more Muslim victims of a boat capsize on Monday off the coast of Arakan State were recovered on Wednesday, bringing the total reported death toll to 13, with 34 people still missing. 

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.

Local residents in Sittwe, the administrative seat of Arakan State, are concerned about their safety following a rise in crimes from theft and mugging to murder.

Muslims from Buthidaung, Rathedaung and Maungdaw townships were heading to Malaysia, and their boat capsized near Barsar Village in Sittwe Township due to bad weather.

“If the water does not recede, we will face livelihood hardships,” said Daw Khaing Shwe Wah, an IDP woman from the displacement camp.

The MRF will make efforts in various ways to stabilise the price of rice and sell good quality rice at a low price for the average people, the statement added.

About 80 houses along the shoreline in Arakan State’s Thandwe and Taungup townships were swept away recently after heavy rains and strong winds led to the erosion of riverbanks in the area.

Since the first week of August, the water levels of the Kaladan River and the Laymyo River have risen due to continuous rains, and surrounding paddy fields have been flooded for about four days, according to farmers.

“The water has risen to about 6 feet. Food shortages are reported due to road blockages triggered by heavy rains since August 4,” said U Nyo Maung Thein, the administrator of Shwekyan Village.

The matriculation examination pass rate of Thet students has increased and education has also improved due to the award ceremonies.

A primary school teacher at Kwasone village in Maungdaw said: “Floodwaters have reached into the village, and we closed the school today for the safety of the children.”

Floodwaters have reached five to six feet high in low-lying areas in more than 20 villages in Minbya Township as the Lemyo River has swelled.

The businessmen said that they have submitted a request for reserve rice to the Arakan State military council to facilitate the people’s livelihood, but they have not yet been granted permission.

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.

At least 50 villages in Kyauktaw and Minbya townships in Arakan State are flooded due to heavy rainfall, according to locals.

The exact number of rental bookstores that have shut down across Arakan State is unknown. But in Sittwe, only two such bookstores are open today,