More than 100 killed in Myanmar Pakkoku Flood

(Naseem Sheikh, Lahore)

More than 100 killed in Myanmar Pakkoku Flood, but Warning is still for Bangkok and Thailand.

Burma, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar is a country in Southeast Asia, 40th largest country in the world and the second largest country in Southeast Asia. But misfortunately it is under the negative impact of climate change after Pakistan and Thailand.

Flash floods about 500 kilometers north of Yangon have killed 100 people and left more than 80 people missing, officials said Sunday.

The official put the estimated damage from the disaster at around $1.64 million. More than 1,500 people have sought refuge in two shelters in the flood-hit town of Pakokku and were visited by the military-dominated country's second vice-president Sai Mauk Kham on Sunday morning.

Besides, 403 other houses including one clinic, one monastery and one primary school from 22 villages in Pauk Township were ravaged and 19 other people including 10 women were missing or killed in flood of Yaw creek and Kyaw creek.

Local media said six relief camps have been set up to accommodate 1,500 flood victims. More than 2,000 houses were swept away by the mass of water that hit four towns in the Magway region on Thursday and Friday.

"The water level is back to normal now," by a local man "Transportation is still difficult as the bridge was destroyed and most telephone lines are still down," the man added.

South-East Asia has been battered by particularly severe monsoon rains this year. The flooding is the worst to hit Thailand in decades, killing at least 356 people, displacing more than 110,000 and doing huge damage to the economy,
tens of thousands of families sheltering in evacuation centres.

Heavy rains since July have inundated large parts of Southeast Asia, forcing millions from their homes. Another 336 people have died in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, an official said

Be caveat that a huge amount of water is making its way towards Bangkok and is expected to reach inner Bangkok in 3 to 7 days. Northern Bangkok is already beginning to flood and areas around the old airport are seeing rising flood water. The province immediately to the North of Bangkok is under water and for anyone in Bangkok at the moment all you have to do is drive north of Don Mueang airport and see for yourselves. Google GISTDA and look at the daily satellite photo to see the progression of the huge mass of water.

The flooding will not be like a flood after a heavy rainfall but it will be like rapid water rising and could be severe like a fresh water tsunami. After one or two days the water will start to pollute and a few days after that it will be full of garbage. Once flooded expect the flood water to remain for weeks, told by a local there.

Central, and Southern Bangkok is still safe but other areas are suffering badly. No electricity, fresh water or food. All the markets in Bangkok don't have bottle water anymore and stuff like flash lights, dry food, instant noodles are in high demand.

A growing number of countries are pledging aid to the flood-ravaged region. Please help donate to any flood funds for Thailand and the other countries in the area. People are suffering badly.

Search and rescue work are underway, the report added.

Naseem Sheikh
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