At least five people, including two children, have died after severe flooding swept through Kale Township in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region, forcing more than 1,000 residents from their homes. Days of torrential rain and runoff from the Chin Hills caused the Myittha River and local creeks to burst their banks last week, inundating low‑lying wards and villages such as Nat Chaung, Aung Myin Thar and Zin Ka Lin. Rescue teams said floodwaters have begun to recede, but thick mud and the risk of waterborne diseases remain a serious threat. Among the victims was 15‑year‑old Maung Aung Phway Win, who drowned on 6 September after being swept away while collecting firewood with his father. A younger child died in a landslide on 3 September, while a 55‑year‑old woman was carried off when a riverbank collapsed. A cattle herder and an unidentified man also lost their lives in separate incidents. More than 1,000 displaced residents are now sheltering in schools across Kale town as officials assess damage to homes and farmland. Local authorities warned that diarrhoea and skin infections could spread quickly in the aftermath. Myanmar’s Department of Meteorology and Hydrology reported that the Myittha River crested nearly two feet above its danger mark before levels began to fall over the weekend. The flooding highlights the vulnerability of Sagaing Region, which borders India and is prone to heavy monsoon rains. Communities here often face landslides and river surges, with limited infrastructure to withstand prolonged downpours. Rescue groups are continuing to clear debris and provide relief supplies, but the scale of damage is still being measured. For families who lost loved ones, the tragedy underscores the dangers of living in flood‑prone areas where sudden surges can turn routine rains into deadly disasters. -2026-09-09
