Disaster Management: Rehabilitation measures in flood-hit areas

National Disaster Management Committee held its meeting in Nay Pyi Taw on Saturday with the attendance of Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice Senior General Soe Win in his capacity as the Committee Chairman.

The meeting discussed the measures for implementing the rehabilitation works on the damages caused by the inundation in Nay Pyi Taw Council area. The Vice Senior General called for collaborative efforts of all concerned persons for overcoming the natural disasters which caused damages not only in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area but also in other areas including Shan, Kayin and Mon States and Magway, Mandalay, Taninthayi and Bago Regions.

He added that rescue and relief measures have also been provided for those affected areas with the supervisions by the respective region and state disaster management committees. After the meeting the Vice Senior General took a tour around Nay Pyi Taw Council area to assess the condition of damages caused by the floods.

Due to the impact of Typhoon Yagi, the consecutive heavy rains caused the surge of rivers and creeks, resulting the floods and landslides starting the night of September 9th. Tatkone, Pobbathiri, Zeyathiri, Pyinmana and Lewe Townships have seen sudden floods due to heavy rainfall with 11 inches, with reaching to the remaining townships.

On September 10th, the water area has covered the area across 14 miles east of Tatkone, with water level at about 10 to 14 ft. Evacuation process has been carried out with much difficulties by the rescue teams, in cooperation with the local administrative bodies and social organizations.

The water level has receded since the evening of September 11th, and rehabilitation works have been initiated by the afternoon of September 12th. About 25,000 affected individuals are accommodating at the 82 relief camps, with relief measures in place.

As of September 14th, 42 people were killed with 33 houses drifted due to water current and more than 3,800 buildings inundated. The rescue measures are also ongoing. Preparation measures are in place in the villages along the Sittaung River, as the receding floodwaters from Nay Pyi Taw have flowed into the Sittaung River Basin.