Dawei floods leave thousands stranded, many dead or missing

At least 26 people have been confirmed dead and more than 30 remain missing after devastating floods and landslides swept through Dawei District in southern Myanmar over the weekend. Rescue groups say thousands of residents are still cut off, with communications severed and roads submerged under several metres of water.

The disaster struck all three townships of Dawei District—Thayetchaung, Launglon and Dawei—where homes, bridges and farmland were destroyed. In Launglon alone, ten people were killed, while bodies of women and children were recovered in Kadet village. Local groups warn that many more victims may be trapped in isolated communities.

Heavy rains had been forecast days in advance, yet no evacuation was ordered. Since 24 September, monsoon downpours linked to a low‑pressure system in the Gulf of Thailand have battered the region. By 26 September, floods and landslides intensified, leaving villages without electricity, phone lines or internet access.

Local resistance and civil society organisations have stepped in to provide ad‑hoc relief, using boats to reach stranded families. “Many villages remain out of reach,” said Min Htet of the Dawei District Alliance, adding that only young volunteers and resistance groups are able to deliver aid. International humanitarian organisations have been urged to intervene directly, with pledges from local forces to avoid clashes during the crisis.

The regime’s response has been muted. Tanintharyi Region’s chief minister inspected flood‑hit areas in Dawei town, but coup leader Min Aung Hlaing has remained silent. Critics say the lack of central coordination has left communities to fend for themselves.

Meteorologists warn that the depression has now intensified, bringing renewed rainfall and strong winds across Mon State. With thousands still stranded and supplies running low, the scale of the disaster is only beginning to emerge. For families who have lost loved ones or remain cut off, the call for urgent international assistance is growing louder by the day.

-2026-09-29