Shahtuzup village in Kachin State was inundated for the third time this year.
“Flooding is actually worse than it was during the previous times,” Naw Dee, who is the village headman of Wa Ra Zup village-tract, told KNG. “All of the wards are flooded, including every house and the high school. The only dry area is the market.”
Over 2,000 villagers living in 200 homes in 4 wards have taken shelter with relatives or in religious buildings in Hpakant Township.
After four days of rain, which started on September 21, Mogaung, Hkawng Law Hka and Shahtuhka creeks overflowed, inundating the village. By around 2:00 a.m., on September 25, Shahtuzup was submerged by 7 ft’ of water, the headman said.
Flood victims desperately need emergency food and other supplies, which Naw Dee hopes the government will provide.
“In the past, we haven’t seen this kind of flooding. It is the third round of flooding in our village this year!” said Htoi Awng, a resident of Shahtuzup. He blamed it on the environmental degradation caused by gold mining, which is prevalent in the area.
Flooding prevented buses and trucks from crossing Danai (or Tanai) to Lido Road. Until the water recedes, motorists are unable to travel any further than Shahtuzup.
