Death toll rises to 53 in Myanmar landslide

YANGON, Myanmar

A total of 53 dead bodies have been pulled out of a landslide rubble caused by heavy monsoon rains in southeastern Myanmar as of Sunday evening, a Myanmar authority said.

Myanmar Fire Services Department said the landslide of a mountain buried 27 homes, a Buddhist monastery and some vehicles in a village in Mon state’s Thaton Township on Friday, affecting 169 villagers.

“Rescue work will continue in coming days as 29 villagers are still reportedly missing,” it said in a press release on Sunday evening (9 pm local time).

Htein Lin, social affairs minister of Mon state told Anadolu Agency on Sunday that two more landslides also happened in the area over the weekend.

“However no one was hurt in these incidents,” he said over phone.

He added that at least three sections in major highways in the regions were damaged by severe rainfall that has pummeled the regions for days, causing delay for the transportation of aid to affected areas.

“It is the worst disaster in our region in seven decades,” he added.

According to government data, the flood displaced at least 14,000 people in Myanmar's southern states of Mon, Kayin and Tanintharyi.

Yay town in Mon state becomes the worst-hit town as about two-thirds of the town has been submerged since late Saturday.

Aung Phyo Khaing, a resident in Yay town, told Anadolu Agency that people fear the whole town would be submerged as DMH predicted continuation of monsoon rains over the next three days.

“We are still ok, but the situation is worsening over time,” he said by phone on Sunday night.

In recent weeks, heavy rain has caused flood in upper parts of the country forcing around 89,000 people to take refuge in temporary camps and religious buildings.