At least 17 dead, 30 missing in Kayah landslide
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| (Photo: MOI) |
By Ye Mon
October 13, 2015
Downpours in Kayah State have triggered a deadly landslide, killing at least 17 people and forcing Hpa-Saung township to evacuate. More are feared to have died in the incident.
As the landslide hit in the afternoon on October 11, ten men and seven women were killed, and at least 60 houses were destroyed, the Global New Light of Myanmar reported today.
According to the Myanmar Red Cross, which sent relief and rescue teams to set up temporary camps in the area, 17 people have died, 48 are badly injured and at least 30 people are still missing.
"Now we are focused on searching the landslide area for the missing people,” U Aung Kyaw Myo, a supporting officer at the Myanmar Red Cross, told The Myanmar Times.
Temporary camps have opened at schools and at Lokhalo Station Hospital. More than 360 inhabitants from the landslide risk area between Mawchi Taung Paw village and Lokhalo village have been relocated to the shelters, according to the Global New Light.
The Kayah State government held an emergency meeting and formed a management committee led by the state chief minister.
Further rain is expected through the day and evening in Kayah State, whiletorrential rain is anticipated in Mandalay, Magway and Ayeyawady regions, as well as Rakhine State.
Several stats and regions are still reeling from severe monsoon storms that lashed Myanmar from June through August and triggered some of the worst flooding on record. Landslides ravaging Chin State forced plans to relocate the state capital.
