Death toll of Myanmar landslide increases to 63

A total of 63 people have been killed and four others injured in a landslide triggered by heavy rain in some five townships of Myanmar's western Rakhine state over the several days since last weekend, the official daily New Light of Myanmar further confirmed Saturday.

One more township of Mrauk-U in the state was also affected with a total of 62 houses flooded by water as high as 1 meter, the report said, adding that 533 victims in the area were evacuated.

The heavy rain and strong wind, that swept the state's Maungtaw, Buthidaung, Minbya, Ponnagyun and Kyauktaw townships, flattened over 120 houses and buildings, causing damage to bridges and erosion of some sections of roads in some of the townships.

According to an earlier report, a total of 2,276 flood victims of 298 households have been evacuated to safer places and relief and rehabilitation work are urgently and extensively underway by the authorities.

In the latest development, measures are being taken to reopen some main railroads and motor roads such as Sittway-Ponnagyung- Yotayok railroad, Buthidaung-Maungtaw motor road and Yangon- Sittway motor road as soon as possible as flood water subsided on Wednesday, the report said.

Some of the flood victims from Maungtaw have returned to their home villages, the report added.

Source: Xinhua