Residents evacuated from many villages as Lemro river continues to inflate

Salai Moe Aung, Narinjara News, 3 August 2024

As the water level of Lemro river continues to rise, the residents of villages between Mrauk-U and Minbya townships have been evacuated.

Villages like Poe Phyu Kyun, Sin Baw Kaing, Nyaung Pin Hla, Zedi Kone, Mya Kyun, Sin Oe Gyi, Ywar Ma Ni and Shwe Tun Phyu under Mrauk-U and Gwa Sone, Pwe Ya Kan Seik, Shwe Kyan and Pyin Yaung under  Minbya were affected. So most of the villagers have been  shifted to highland areas and monasteries by the night hours of Friday.

A woman from Zedi Kone village was shifted to Maung Thar Kone village and put her in a village monastery. She revealed  that the water level was  rising and hence they decided to move out of their places.

“We don't have any boat ready for us. If the water rises more it will create serious problems.

So we decided to come out. The entire village is now evacuating,” she added.

The river water level has risen to about nine feet in the lowland and six feet in the highland areas.

A resident of Gwa Sone village said that every villager shifted to the monastery for shelter.

Since the third week of July, relentless rains hit Arakan State and the Lemro river water inundated a large area since 1 August.

Taungup, Gwa and Thandwe townships are also experiencing the flood since 25 July.

Arakan peasant union estimated that the flood water devastated a large cropland area in the affected townships.