Urgent management of rescue, relief, and rehabilitation needed

 

Heavy rains have been scattering across Myanmar due to impacts of Typhoon Yagi from the South China Sea and a depression from the western central and northwest of the Bay of Bengal since 10 September. Subsequently, water levels at creeks and rivers are rising, causing flash floods in some townships of Nay Pyi Taw Council Area and some regions and states.

Tatmadaw members from relevant areas, together with departmental personnel and philanthropic social organizations, are carrying out the evacuation of flood victims to safer places, repairs of roads and bridges, removal of collapsed walls and buildings, as well as clearing up broken branches of trees. Flood victims are accommodated at the temporary relief camps opened in relevant townships with provisions for healthcare services and food supplies.

Chairman of the State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and officials inspected rescue and relief works, repairing roads and bridges caused by floods and flash floods yesterday afternoon.

The Senior General inspected the construction of a bailey bridge so as not to interrupt the road transport as flash flood and overflow of Hsinthay Creek destroyed the approach structure and approach road to the 360 feet long and 55 feet wide Thaikchaung Bridge crossing Hsinthay Creek and its piers on Pobbathiri circular road linking Zeyathiri and Pobbathiri townships in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area. Union Minister for Construction U Myo Thant and officials reported to the Senior General on the progress of the repair work.

In his guidance, the Senior General said that the Thaikchaung Bridge crossing Hsinthay Creek and other bridges damaged by flash floods must be repaired as quickly as possible for public convenience and not interrupt transport. He stressed the need to systematically calculate the reconstruction of bridges for damaged ones for their long-term existence, resilience to natural disasters and endurance of flash floods at a time when flash floods mitigate.

The Senior General asked the Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, the Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman and officials about the evacuation of victims from flooded wards and villages to temporary relief camps and instructed officials to arrange accommodation and food supplies as well as necessary aid for flood victims. Moreover, he emphasized arrangements for offering meals to monasteries and nunneries.

The Chairman of the State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services and officials viewed round damage in sown acreage of crops, the inflow of water at villages, inundation at the road section leading to Hlaykhwin Hill from Pinlaung junction and Yangon-Mandalay highway, waiting of cargo trucks and passenger buses on the roads by car from Thaikchaung Village to Yangon-Mandalay highway. The Senior General also viewed the flow of water in Hsinthay Creek from Kyaukchet Bridge crossing Hsinthay Creek. He inspected inundation at public residences in Wetkon Village and Pauktaw Village in Pobbathiri Township. The Senior General gave guidance to officials on how to remove the broken branches of trees caused by floods soon. If so, water will ebb. So, heavy machinery and manpower must be deployed at full capacity. Heavy machinery from ministries and Tatmadaw engineering corps must be used to clear the drains for the proper flow of water. It is necessary to manage rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures as quickly as possible, he added.

At Ayemyint Thaya Bridge crossing Hsinthay Creek, the Senior General looked into damage to the retaining walls of the approach road to the bridge, blockage of fallen trees, and logs at the piers of the bridge in Hsinthay Creek. He stressed the need to repair bridges and all roads with proper flow of water and use heavy machinery to speed up repair works. The Senior General also inspected the removal of silt on the road.

In his instruction, the Senior General urged officials to continue rescue and relief measures as quickly as possible with full strength, mentioning that relief aid must be distributed to flood victims rapidly. Officials from the government need to contact foreign countries to receive rescue and relief aid to be provided to the victims.

The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology has stated that as natural disasters such as heavy rains, strong winds, flash floods, and landslides may occur from yesterday morning to 15 September, those residing along highlands and rivers and creeks need to beware of landslides and flash floods. Moreover, inland water transport and aviation flights have to take precautions for their services.

MNA/TTA

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