The search and rescue (special) team and local groups join in rescue operations.
As the Bago River flood reached an emergency, the search and rescue (special) team members from the Fire Services Department rushed to cooperate with various local groups in the rescue operations.
Flooding has occurred in eight wards and two villages in Bago township since 8 October morning by the Bago River rising due to torrential downpours.
Military personnel under the Southern Command, Myanmar Police Force, fire brigade members and social organizations evacuated flood victims to temporary relief centres and provided healthcare services.
A total of 24 temporary relief centres have been opened and nearly 5,600 people from about 1,300 households have been accommodated to the centres, according to the Bago Region government.
With the rising of the river, water is entering residences and inundating the roads as the road segments are collapsed by inundation detour of Bago township near the Kokkotan.
“The lower floors of the Bago General Hospital have been flooded. Bago Myoma market and downtown area have all been flooded. Not only the low-lying areas but also the high-lying areas have also been flooded. Then, schools have also been temporarily closed,” Ma Win Ma Aye, a Bago resident, told The Global New Light of Myanmar (GNLM).
The Bago River water level reached 1004 cm at 6:30 am on 9 October and is still rising. The search and rescue (special) forces from the Fire Services Department left the headquarters on 9 October along with boats/materials used in search and rescue operations and personal protective equipment for rescue measures.
“Markets have no longer opened for flood and the goods have been moved to safe areas. Transport has been disrupted. The arch entrance of monasteries in some wards is about to be flooded. Some get stuck as they thought it would not be bad. Some have also escaped. The rescue teams are carrying out evacuation operations as much as they can. It is difficult that they need boats for the operations,” Ko Maung Naing Soe who lives in Hinthagon told the GNLM.
The electricity has been switched off to prevent danger and communications such as MPT, ATOM, and Mytel phone lines are unable to make calls while only one Ooredoo phone line can be used. — TWA/ MKKS
