Attachments
What happened, where and when? The monsoon rains in Myanmar have led to severe flooding in multiple rivers and waterways throughout the country. The Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) has been responding since the start of the floods in the northern part of the country on 30 June 2024. Due to the ongoing flooding in all of the main rivers and several smaller waterways and tributaries throughout the country, the MRCS’s capacities have been overwhelmed and now require additional support.
On 30 June 2024, heavy rainfall began affecting northern Myanmar, particularly Kachin State, leading to floods and river overflows, notably in the Ayeyarwady River. This resulted in population displacement and damage, impacting an estimated 45 wards and 29 villages in Kachin State.
On 1 July 2024, the MRCS national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) received limited information from the MRCS Kachin branch. That day’s report (9:30 AM) indicated that the Ayeyarwady River water level in Myitkyina had risen above the danger level by more than four feet (about 122 cm) and continued to rise at about three inches (7.6 cm) per hour. The water level reached 1.3 metres (4.2 feet) above the danger mark within 12 hours. Low-lying areas in Myitkyina were flooded, and displaced families from the Lekon neighbourhood, who had relocated due to violence and conflict, faced compounded challenges.
On 7 July 2024, the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) reported significant rises in the water levels in additional locations in the country. This included ongoing increases of water levels in the Ayeyarwady and Chindwin Rivers and the Nant Yin Chaung and Nant Kaung Chaung Rivers at critical levels. Residents of several townships in Kachin, Mandalay, and Sagaing regions were advised to take extra precautions.
By 11 July 2024, floods affected several townships in the Magway region, Mandalay region, and townships in northern Shan State. The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) of the Ministry of Social Welfare reported that at least 31,000 people were evacuated due to floods in Kachin State and the Sagaing, Magway, and Mandalay regions. The floods led to the death of at least one child in Hkamti, Sagaing, and five people in Myitkyina, Kachin. However, another source reported no flood-related deaths and injuries. Discrepancies in reporting may be due to significant access challenges caused by ongoing flooding, rainfall, and pre-existing violence and conflict.
On 25 July 2024, the DMH issued flood advisories for several regions in lower Myanmar in response to rising water levels moving downstream. The affected areas include Kayin state, Mon state, Bago state, and Ayeyarwady region.
As of late July 2024, Sagaing and Magway regions are experiencing severe flooding due to the overflow of the Chindwin and Ayeyarwady Rivers. Heavy rainfall in central Myanmar has exacerbated the situation, causing widespread damage to agricultural lands and displacing residents. As of 1 August, river levels were still on the rise, posing a significant threat to communities living along the banks of multiple waterways in central and lower Myanmar.
The water levels in major rivers such as the Ayeyarwady, Sittoung, Thanlwin, Bilin, Shwegyin, Ngawun, and Bago have surpassed danger thresholds and causing extensive flooding across multiple regions in lower Myanmar.
On 29 July 2024, surges of the Hlaing and Bawlae Rivers in the Yangon region caused significant flooding in Taikkyi and Kungyangon townships, which are located in the far north and south, respectively of the region. Approximately 3,000 residents from 640 households in three village tracts in Taikkyi township have been affected. In Kungyangon township, over 9,000 people from 29 villages have been evacuated to the Sasana Hitakayi Monastery, according to reports from MITV.
Due to ongoing monsoon rains, widespread flooding continues to be reported at different locations along the main rivers, affecting the Ayeyarwady delta, Rakhine, Mon, Tanintharyi coastal areas, and regions including Yangon and Bago. This situation is exacerbated by Typhoon Gaemi, which struck Taiwan with wind speeds of 127 mph on 25 July. The residual clouds from the typhoon moved towards Myanmar, Thailand, and China, potentially generating further flooding and heavy rainfall in these regions.