Attachments
Date of event
20-10-2023
What happened, where and when?
Since 4 October 2023, Myanmar's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology had been warning about floods and heavy rains in the Yangon and Bago regions. From 5 to 9 October 2023, heavy rains caused severe flooding in southern Myanmar, especially in Bago Township, where rainfall was the highest in almost 60 years. In Bago Township, a record high of 200 mm of rain was measured within 24 hours on 8 October 2023. This led to widespread flooding in urban and suburban areas, affecting families and crops and forcing people to leave their homes in Bago City, as well as in Taik Kyi, Hlegu, and Hmawbi townships in Yangon Region. A total of 27,300 people were reported to have been displaced, including those staying in some 47 relief camps, and 2,800 houses were reportedly destroyed [1].
On 12 October 2023, water was released from the Se Taw Gyi Dam in Madaya Township, leading to unexpected flooding in several villages in the Mandalay Region. Over 30,000 people evacuated, leaving their belongings behind. Roads in Mandalay were also flooded, affecting neighborhoods such as Myothit Wards, Payantaw, and Nadi Creeks.
The floods created urgent needs for food, water, shelter, hygiene, and sanitation for affected populations, particularly in rural areas with high poverty rates or poorly constructed shelters. During the floods, affected populations received basic food assistance, drinking water, non-food items (NFIs), and some cash assistance from communities, authorities, and private donors. Rural health service centers also provided water purification and health services to the community. MRCS branch volunteers supported the evacuation process, facilitated distributions, and assisted with camp organization under the coordination of authorities and private or community-level humanitarian aid services. After about five to seven days, all community members returned to their homes, and water levels returned to normal, with floodwaters fully receding.