The heavy rain has caused Mobye Dam to reach its dangerous point and the water was released into Belu Chaung River. As a result, the three villages namely Payani, Payapyu and Pawng Taw villages near Loikaw have been flooded for more than a month, reported a relief worker who is evacuating the villagers.
The Burmese authority released water in Mobye Dam on last September 3 and this emergency release has caused Balu Chuang River to rise and more than 100 houses have almost submerged under the flood said the relief worker.
“As the villagers have to depend on boat to travel from place to place, the boat rate has become very expensive that become more difficult for us”, said a local.
“We used boat going in the Inle Lake to buy rice and charcoal. But as the boat rate has gone up, we have to make our own raft from old water containers and fuel containers. Until now, the rain hasn’t stop yet. If it continues to rain like this, there will be more trouble for us.”
The refugees from the flood are taking shelter in nearby monastery, in their relative houses and some are making tents around their village where the flood cannot reach.
As the Balu Chuang River didn’t rise up suddenly, the villagers didn’t lose many of their properties from the flood. The refugees are not facing health problem right now as some NGOs and humanitarian groups are providing medical assistance for them.
According to a relief worker, the local religious groups and the NGOs such as World Vision, Care Myanmar, Kayah Phu, and Kayah Mopwa are helping the refugees to provide rice, drinking water, cooking materials, rainproof and some donation to them.
As more water is being released from Mobye Dam, many areas in Loikaw including Dawtama, Dawnoeku, Shwe Daung, Na Kone and Mingalar quarter are under flooded.
