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Floods in Myanmar kill more than 100, displace thousands
The central part of the country is hit, washing away homes, roads and bridges. So far, 35 bodies have been recovered. There is little hope for 106 people missing. Some residents complain about the government for the lack of warning. According to United Nations figures, monsoon rains have killed at least 700 people across Southeast Asia.
Yangon (AsiaNews/Agencies) – More than 100 people have been killed in flash floods in central Burma after heavy storms last week. Monsoon rains caused landslides with river breaking their banks. Pakokku, a town in Magwe Division and some 30 kilometres north of Bagan, was hardest hit.
"So far, 35 dead bodies were found out of 106 missing people. The other 71 people are also believed to have been killed in the floods,” a government official told AFP on condition of anonymity. "We haven't found their bodies yet and are still searching."
More than 2,000 houses were also swept away by the mass of water that hit four towns in the Magwe region, and about 6,000 homes are still flooded.
According to preliminary estimates, damage from the disaster is around US$ 1.64 million.
More than 1,500 people have sought refuge in two shelters in the flood-hit town of Pakokku and were visited by the military-dominated country's second Vice-President Sai Mauk Kham on Sunday morning.
In some parts of central Myanmar, roads, bridges and buildings were damaged by strong winds and heavy rains.
Some residents in the affected areas have complained that they received little warning about the impending disaster.
One Seikphyu resident told DVB that even two-storey buildings were inundated to the roof.
According to the United Nations, more than 700 people were killed across Southeast Asia. Monsoon rains were particularly intense in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and the Philippines, affecting some 8 million residents.