STRONG monsoon conditions returned to the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea in the first week of September, resulting in continuous, widespread and heavy rainfall in some areas of Mon and Rakhine states, and Tanintharyi Division.

According to records from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, 24-hour rainfall on September 7 was measured at 15.28 inches in Manaung in Rakhine state, 11.61 inches in Launglong in Tanintharyi Division, and 7.48 inches in Dawei in Tanintharyi division.

Dawei also saw heavy rainfall on September 5 and 6, when the department measured 4.10 inches and 5.31 inches respectively.

The heavy precipitation caused some delays in transportation between Dawei and Myeik in Tanintharyi Division, said residents and transportation officials.

U Naing Oo, a lower division clerk at the Dawei Transport and Communication office, said some sections of the Dawei-Myeik and Dawei-Ye roadways were flooded on September 7.

“The flooding occurred on the outskirts of Dawei township but the situation was not serious. All the vehicles could pass through the water, and by the next day the rain stopped,” he said.

U Soe Thiha, who works for Aung Yadanar Express bus company serving the Yangon-Myeik route, said their transportation schedule was unaffected by the rain despite some problems caused by flooding.

“Two bridges collapsed between Dawei and Myeik. I’ve heard that Malakar Pin Creek Bridge has already been repaired and is back in use, but not the bridge at An Ma Creek,” he said last week.

He said the company arranged vehicles beyond the area where the bridges had collapsed so passengers could cross the creeks on foot, board the new vehicles and continue their journey.

U Zayar Myo, in-charge of departures and arrivals at Hein Thitsar Transportation, said that his company temporarily stopped its buses at Dawei until the road was clear to continue to Myeik.

“The delays started on September 6. By September 8 the water still had not receded,” he said.

Monsoon conditions were weak in the Bay of Bengal in mid to late August, with rainfall amounting to less than one inch per day at the close of the month.

However, total rainfall for August was comparable to last year’s in Yangon.

Total rainfall for August 2008 was 17.37 inches at Mingalardon Station, 18.67 inches at Kaba Aye Station and 19.36 inches in downtown Yangon, while this year’s measurements were 15.08 inches, 19.09 inches and 19.88 inches respectively.

The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology has forecast moderate monsoon conditions in the Bay of Bengal in the second 10-day period of this month.