Dam breakage causes serious flooding in Myanmar

Water from a breached dam has flooded communities in central Myanmar and blocked part of a highway linking the main cities of Yangon (Source: Internet)

The Myanmar Fire Services Department said the dam broke in the morning of August 29, flushing water into the nearby town of Swar and two other villages.

Water from the dam also spilled onto the Swar section of the Yangon-Mandalay highway, forcing authorities to close the road.

The Myanmar fire department dispatched a fire brigade to the Swar irrigation dam.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Local media reported that the commander-in-chief of Myanmar’s army, Min Aung Hlaing, visited the flooded area.

Myanmar’s heavy annual monsoon rains have caused widespread flooding, including the displacement of more than 100,000 people and killing at least 11 in July./.

VNA