July 1, 2024
In Myitkyina, Kachin State, the Ayeyarwady River has surpassed the danger level of 1,200 centimeters by over 4 feet. As of 8:30 AM on July 1, the river is rising at a rate of 3 inches per hour, according to U Naing Lin Htwe of the junta’s Department of Meteorology and Hydrology on his social media page.
“At 5 PM yesterday, the shops near the motorboat dock in Naung Khaing village were still above water. However, by 8 AM today, they were submerged. The water is expected to reach Myitkyina in the next six hours. Nearly the entire city is at risk of flooding. We advise residents to relocate to higher ground immediately,” a local resident posted on Facebook.
Currently, those displaced by the flooding are being moved to nearby monasteries and large buildings that can accommodate them, according to a Myitkyina-based rescue worker.
Given the current water levels and the rising trend, areas such as Shan Zu Taung, Shan Zu Myauk, Myoma, Min Yat, Myothit, Shwe Set, Tat Kon, and Ayeya Ward are also expected to be affected soon.
Historically, the highest recorded water levels in Myitkyina were 1,413 centimeters in 1979, 1,411 centimeters in 1997, and 1,407 centimeters in 2004.
