By Kyaw Ye Lynn
YANGON, Myanmar (AA) – More than 53,000 people have been affected by widespread flooding across Myanmar, with heavy rains from a storm in the Bay of Bengal sweeping across the country, an official said Tuesday.
Incessant downpours since July 30 have brought floods to areas along the three main rivers of the country, including the Ayeyawady, the country's main inland waterway that flows from north to south.
The permanent secretary of Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement told Anadolu Agency by phone Tuesday that at least 53,800 people in six regions -- Ayeyawady, Mandalay, Sagaing, Magway, Bago and Kachin State -- had been relocated to higher ground as their areas were under water.
“The data is based on the people who shelter in temporary camps and monasteries, and doesn’t include people who move to other places on their own plan,” Soe Aung said.
He added that many people still had to be relocated with the possibility of further flooding in the country's south on the way.
It was unclear if the flooding had led to any casualties.
The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology warned of possible floods in Mon, Karen states, Yangon and Tanitharyi divisions due to increasing water passing along the Ayeyawaddy, Chindwin and Ngawun rivers -- most rivers in Myanmar flow north to south
Although a majority of the flooding was in northern and central Myanmar, flooding is forecast for the south in days.
Floods are common in Myanmar during the monsoon period that begins in May or June and runs to July and August.
The government had said that up to 100 people died and around one million people were affected by flooding across the country last year.