Thousands of people suffer from power outages due to torrential rains in northern Burma

2 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –

Thousands of people have been left without electricity and access to telecommunications services in Kachin State in northern Myanmar due to heavy rains and flooding in the area in recent days.

The situation has led to the Ayeyarwady River overflowing its banks, leaving the area in a state of “serious danger”, especially in the town of Myitkyina, one of the most affected by the heavy rainfall.

“The water level is rising rapidly. Many people are trapped in their own homes,” said a resident of the town, who lamented that this is leading to further isolation of the local population.

Many people have been forced to leave their homes with only the clothes they are wearing for fear of drowning, according to information collected by the Burmese news portal The Irrawaddy, which has indicated that rescue teams are facing serious difficulties in reaching the worst affected people due to a shortage of fuel.

Myanmar has recently been hit by the climate crisis. Just a few weeks ago, the country was facing a severe heatwave, with temperatures reaching 48°C. The rainy season usually brings months of torrential rainfall, something that has intensified in recent years.

The Kachin State Meteorology and Hydrology Department said the flooding was the most severe in the state capital since the 2004 disaster.