Yangon, Sept 12: Severe flooding in Myanmar’s Mandalay region has claimed the lives of 17 people in Yamethin township over the past two days, according to an official from the Mandalay Fire Services Department, as reported by Xinhua news agency on Thursday.
The flooding has been triggered by heavy rainfall, intensified by a strong monsoon and the remnants of Typhoon Yagi, affecting multiple regions across the country. U Hla Tun, Director of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, stated that central Myanmar has been hit the hardest, with rivers and creeks overflowing due to the persistent downpour.
The rainfall is expected to continue increasing until September 13, after which it is forecasted to gradually decrease, according to U Hla Tun.
In addition to the deaths in Mandalay, three people have died in Tachileik town of Shan state, while four more have been killed in Tatkon township of Nay Pyi Taw, as confirmed by local rescue organizations.
The floods have also disrupted rail transport, with some train stations and railway lines submerged, leading to the temporary suspension of services on the Yangon-Mandalay and Thar Si-Shwe Naung routes.
