NEWS - 15 killed and 50,000 homeles

[Rangoonp@xxxxxxx]

Subject: NEWS - 15 killed and 50,000 homeless in Burma

Waters receding,  situation seen improving in North
15 killed and 50,000 homeless in Burma
Bangkok Post

The flooding in several areas of Mae Hong Son and Tak provinces
showed signs of receding yesterday, the Local Administration
Department chief said.

Director-general Pramual Rujanaseri, in his capacity as chairman of the
Civil Defence Office, predicted the situation would return to normal
soon if there were no rains this week.

He said 150 families or about 862 people in Mae Hong Son have been
affected by flash floods, which damaged 18 houses and 15 weirs in Sob
Moei, Mae Sariang and Khun Yuam districts. Five main roads in these
districts were made impassible and a total of 165 rai of farmland was
inundated.

In Tak, the situation in several districts was improving, with water
levels receding to 5-10cm. To prepare for the threat of further heavy
rains, Umphang district authorities have sent sandbags to reinforce
dykes near a main reservoir.

In Tha Song Yang district, the water level in the Moei River receded by
1-2m. However, four tambons in Mae U-su, Mae Song, Mae Wa Luang
and Tha Song Yang districts remained inundated due to run-offs from
mountains, Mr Pramual said.

Meanwhile, 15 Burmese villagers were killed, seven went missing and
over 50,000 people were made homeless by flash floods hitting the
eastern part of Burma opposite Tak, said a source, citing a Burmese
television report on Sunday.

The Salween, Taungyin and two other rivers near Pegu Division
overflowed their banks and inundated many villages along the banks in
Pegu and Karen State during the past five days, the report said.