Myanmar: Over 16,000 displaced by floods in Kayin State

By Gamze Turkoglu Oguz and Cansu Dikme

ANKARA

Floods after heavy monsoon rains displaced more than 16,000 people in Myanmar, local media reported on Thursday.

A total of 16,792 people were displaced by floods -- which began over the weekend in southeastern Kayin State -- as of Wednesday, the Myanmar Times reported, quoting the Department of Disaster Management.

Some 10,368 people were forced to flee their homes in the state capital Hpa-an because of flood water from the Thanlwin River, it added.

Many evacuation centers were set up across the state to provide temporary shelters for the victims.

Monsoon rains affected a large part of the Philippines, Japan and Southeast Asia this summer.

In Bangladesh, the Rohingya Muslims face the risk of losing shelters due to monsoon rains and many infectious diseases due to polluted water sources.