Hpakant flooding affects thousands of families
July 26 - August 1, 2010
MORE than 1100 families have been affected by flooding in Kachin State’s Hpakant township following several days of heavy rain, a Myanmar Red Cross Society official said on July 22.
The official said no deaths or serious injuries had been reported and two relief camps had been opened, in Maw Si Zar and Kaday Maw villages, to cater for displaced families.
According by the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, 6.22 inches (15.8 centimetres) of rain was recorded in the 24 hours to 9:30am on July 19 at Khamti, north of Hpakant, while a further 4.76 inches (12.1cm) was recorded in the following 24 hours.
The official said 66 homes were reportedly flooded in the Lone Kihin village tract at about 9:30pm on July 19 and a 30-metre (100-foot) stretch of road near Kyauk Phar in Lone Kihin village tract was badly water damaged as a result.
He said that the water level had reached 3.3m (11 feet) in some low-lying areas of Kaday village, while many areas had experienced 1.5m of flooding.
According to a July 22 report in the state-run Myanmar Ahlin newspaper, the water level in Nanmar Yan and Uru creeks rose because of heavy rain on July 19 and 20 and broke a 3-metre high ground dyke near Kaday village.
As a result four quarters – Myoma, Ma Shi Ka Htaung, Ngapyaw Taw and Aymyatharyar – and three villages – Nant Ma Phyit, Lone Kihin and Kaday – were all badly flooded.
The report said the water had already subsided and the damaged dyke had been repaired immidiatly after the water receded.
