Worst monsoon flooding in years submerges hundreds of thousands of hectares of rice fields, causing 85,000 to flee

This article is more than 8 years old

This article is more than 8 years old

At least 85,000 people in Burma have fled their homes as the worst monsoon flooding in years submerged hundreds of thousands of hectares of rice fields, a government relief official has said.

Heavy rains over the last few weeks caused the inundation, which primarily affected the country's southern delta region, said Soe Tun, a member of the government's emergency response team, on Saturday.

Around 70,000 people have been displaced in the delta and are being housed at 219 emergency relief centres set up at schools and monasteries, he said. Another 15,000 people have been displaced elsewhere in the country, and more than 240,000 hectares (600,000 acres) of rice fields have been swamped, he said.

Annual monsoon rains often cause flooding in the region, and this year's are the heaviest since 2004, Soe Tun said. The delta region was devastated in 2008 by Cyclone Nargis, which killed about 130,000 people and destroyed more than 800,000 homes and buildings.

No casualties have been confirmed during the recent floods, which have affected 200,000 people nationwide, Soe Tun said. Some families who have not fled have moved to the upper floors of their dwellings.

Local newspapers have reported that heavy rains and flooding also damaged bridges, homes and rail lines.