12 Augsut
The death toll in the landslide that struck Paung, Mon State, rose to 53 yesterday, with the number of persons rescued in the disaster reaching 47, according to the Paung Township Fire Services Department.
“We would like to request locals who know the details of the number of people residing at the landslide site to come forward. It would help speed up rescue efforts,” said U Tin Thaung Oo, the head of the Paung Township Fire Services Department.
Special rescue teams from the Myanmar Fire Services Department (Central) are carrying out rescue operations with the use of modern machinery, with the help of Tatmadaw members and volunteers at the site.
Some volunteers said they have found some people buried under soil, and there is reason to believe they are dead, but it has been difficult to retrieve them.
“As the rain is torrential, small-scale landslides have occurred here and there, but there have been no deaths in the incidents.
Some people near landslide-prone areas have been evacuated because possible landslides can happen there,” said U Zaw Zaw Htoo, an MP at the Mon State Hluttaw.
Landslides have occurred in six areas in Paung Township since 9 August, and the authorities have alerted to the local people of more incidents. Aid from private donors and the government has reached to the victims of the deadly landslide in Thae Byu Gon Village in the state.—Ko Hein (IPRD)
(Translated by KZL)
