Flooding has devastated crops and forced schools to close in 30 villages across central Myanmar, residents told Radio Free Asia on Wednesday.
The rain-swollen Ayeyarwady River in the Magway region flowed over its banks , destroying 20,000 acres of green beans, peanuts and sesame in the key agricultural region, where most households farm as a primary means of income, one resident of Kamma township said.
“Flooding this year is very bad,” said the resident, who declined to be identified for fear of reprisals due to the military regime’s crackdown on independent media. “Most of the bean fields are flooded and that’s the primary crop in this area.”
About 20 schools have been closed, he said, adding that five more townships in Magway are also experiencing rainy-season flooding.
Since the beginning of July, flooding has displaced tens of thousands in the region, washed away homes and killed several people, residents and relief workers said.
RFA telephoned Magway region’s junta spokesperson, Myo Myint, for comment but he did not respond by the time of publication.
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The rainy season is not due to end until late October but for now, the worst may be over.
The junta’s Department of Meteorology and Hydrology reported early on Wednesday that water levels had receded below the danger level in Mandalay’s Nyaung-U township, to the north of Magway, and in areas to the south, near the river’s delta including in the towns of Seik Thar, Hinthada and Zalun.
Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Mike Firn.