Continued rain caused a landslide of about 100 square feet near Tawnaw Waterfall on Myawady-Kawkareik Asia Highway in the Dawna mountain range today, stopping traffic flow, according to local sources.

It is a major road used for bilateral trade between Myanmar and Thailand.

A man was rescued and sent to Kawkareik People’s Hospital after being stuck in the mud, said Ko Htike, leader of a social aid organization named White Pearl based in Kawkareik. 

“We rushed to the scene after hearing that some cars were swept away. But we found no cars and only a man was rescued. He was sent to the hospital. A landslide is about 100 square feet,” he said.

He said there were a lot of places covered in tender mud, adding that such continued rains might cause more landslides.

Ko Dawei, a small vehicle driver, said: “I drove down the road from Myawady to Mawlamyine. There are three places where half of the road is blocked due to landslides. Now, this giant landslide has prevented us from returning home. We daren’t use the old road while Hotkawkoe Road is in poor condition. Consequently, traffic halt will cut commodity flow.”

The new Myawady-Kawkareik Asia Highway built by a Thai company was inaugurated on November 30, 2016.

The highway is crucial for the West-East Economic Corridor involving Thailand, Myanmar and India in Greater Mekong Region.