The ongoing conflict has led to the closure of the Myawady-Kawkareik Asia Highway, a vital artery for trade between Myanmar and Thailand. As a result, travelers and merchants are compelled to use three alternative routes through the Dawna mountain range. These earth roads, however, have become treacherous with the recent rainfall, complicating passage and increasing the risk of accidents.

The Kyaukkho-Htokawko road, 1018 Htiwapalaw road, and Hnithitkade road (also known as Kyat U Taung road) serve as the current detours. Drivers report that the wet conditions have severely deteriorated these routes, leading to frequent vehicular mishaps.

A local driver shared his experience: “Myawady, being a border town, sees a heavy influx of vehicles. Since the Asia Highway is no longer an option, we’ve turned to the Kyaukkho-Htokawko road. It’s a challenging path with numerous toll gates and steep fees. Lately, the 1018 Htiwapalaw road and Kyat U Taung road have also come into use. But now, the rains have rendered these dirt roads impassable. Just yesterday, we had to resort to using a tractor to pull our vehicle up the 1018 road, which cost us an additional 50,000 kyats. We’ve decided not to travel today. We’re waiting for a break in the weather—two days without rain—before we proceed. It’s too perilous to travel in these conditions.”

In some cases, vehicles on the 1018 and Kyat U Taung roads require elephants for towing, while those on the Kyaukkho-Htokawko road need earthmovers. The driver noted that with two consecutive dry days, the Kyaukkho-Htokawko route is preferable despite its tolls and fees, as it is the shortest. Before the closure, the journey across Don Mountain via the Asia Highway took merely an hour. Now, it’s a day-long ordeal, sometimes necessitating an overnight stay. Transportation officials warn that continued rainfall could bring travel to a standstill.