According to the drivers, untimely rains have made it difficult for vehicles to travel on Htowkkoko road over Dawna Mountain Range in Myawady-Kawkareik, and traffic was temporarily suspended on January 29.

Due to the high risk of overturning, vehicles have been temporarily closed. The gate located at the foot of the Mountain has already been closed, and some vehicles are waiting at the gate of the foot of Mountain.

The situation has been exacerbated by climate change and untimely rains, which have made it difficult for vehicles to travel on Htowkkoko road. 

One of the drivers said that even though it doesn’t rain much in the city, it rains a lot in the mountains, and cars can’t go anymore. In the past, there had been a cloud of dust on the road, but now it is a boggy road. 

He also said that it is currently raining every day, and it is not possible to predict how long it will be impassable on the Htowkkoko road over Dawna Mountain Range.

On December 1, a clash broke out between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) troops and its allied forces and security forces in Kawkareik. There were civilian deaths due to the explosion of heavy weapon shells in the residential areas of the town, and Myawady border trade route has been closed temporarily.

However, passenger buses and cargo vehicles were allowed to use Htowkkoko road.