Monsoon flooding forces 85,000 people in Myanmar flee homes

PanARMENIAN.Net - At least 85,000 people in Myanmar have fled their homes as the worst monsoon flooding in years submerged hundreds of thousands of acres (hectares) of rice fields, a government relief official said Saturday, Aug 25, according to The Associated Press.

Heavy rains over the last few weeks caused the inundation, which primarily affected the country's southern delta region, said Soe Tun, a member of the government's emergency response team.

Around 70,000 people have been displaced in the delta and are being housed at 219 emergency relief centers set up at schools and monasteries, he said. Another 15,000 people have been displaced elsewhere in the country, and more than 600,000 acres (240,000 hectares) of rice fields have been swamped, he said.

Local newspapers reported that heavy rains and flooding also damaged bridges, homes and rail lines.