■ In ten towns, the water level has risen above the danger mark, and the Bago River has exceeded the danger level by about four feet, with only a slight chance of receding.
■ In Bago town, which is experiencing flooding, some schools have been closed, and a young cyclist has died of electrocution.
In ten towns of Myanmar, the water level has risen above the danger mark, and the Bago River has exceeded the danger level by about four feet, with only a slight chance of receding, according to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH).
The rivers experiencing rising water levels include the Ayeyawady, Bago, Sittaung, Ngawun, Bilin, Shwegyin, and Toe Rivers, as announced by the DMH on the afternoon of July 30.
The Ayeyawady River is about half a foot above the danger mark in Hinthada and could fall below the danger mark within a day. The Sittaung River is about six and a half feet above the danger mark in Madauk and is expected to drop by about four inches within a day. The Shwegyin River in Shwegyin town is about three feet above the danger mark and could drop by about one foot within a day.
The Bago River is about four feet above the danger mark in Bago town and could drop by about two inches within a day, according to the DMH.
The Thanlwin River is about six feet above the danger mark in Hpa-an and could drop by about one foot within a day. The Toe River in Maubin is about half a foot above the danger mark and could rise by another half foot within a day, as announced by the DMH.
The Ngawun River in Ngathaingchaung town is about two feet above the danger mark and could drop by about one foot within a day. In Thabaung, it is also about two feet above the danger mark and may drop by two inches within a day. In Pathein, it is about half a foot above the danger mark and could rise by about one foot within a day, the DMH reported.
Residents living near riverbanks and low-lying areas in Hinthada, Zalun, Shwegyin, Bago, Hpa-an, Thabaung, Pathein, Maubin, Madauk, and Ngathaingchaung towns are advised to stay alert, as issued by the department.
In addition, some schools in Bago town have been closed due to the rising Bago River, according to local residents.
“Bago High School No. 1 is closed for two days,” said a local resident.
It is reported that a young cyclist died of electrocution in Bago town on the morning of July 30.
“He went to pick up his phone that was charging and was cycling back when it happened. There was a small amount of water there. He was electrocuted near the front of High School No. 1,” said a local resident.
Currently, some residents of Bago town are being relocated due to the rising Bago River, according to some social welfare organizations.
Flooding is also occurring on the Bago-Yangon road, and the road management company, Max Highway, is warning motorists to be cautious.
Last year, over 13,000 people in Bago town were affected by flooding.
Meteorologist U Win Naing predicts that there will be continuous rainfall in the Bago, Yangon, and Ayeyawady regions over the next four days.
Due to the flooding, relief efforts are being conducted for the affected residents at several locations, such as schools and monasteries, according to the Ministry of Information.
