Eight civilians have died after flash floods submerged the entire Kun Saung village in Pindaya Township, Danu Self-Administered Zone of Southern Shan State, according to local residents. The incident occurred around midnight on July 27th when heavy rainfall caused mountain runoff to flood the village. While eight people were swept away and killed by the rushing waters, rescue efforts managed to save three others who were found alive after being carried away by the flood waters.
Kun Saung village, located approximately 10 miles north of Pindaya town, consists of about 70 households and is situated at the foot of a mountain. The natural disaster swept away numerous houses, and the market stalls adjacent to the Shwe U Min Cave Pagoda in Pindaya town also collapsed. Additionally, the water level marker at the Pone Ta Loke reservoir was submerged with water overflowing, while crops and farmlands in Thein Kone Kone village, Shwe Pyi Htoe village, Zaw Gyi village, and other surrounding villages were severely damaged.
According to a local resident, heavy rainfall continued until July 28th, followed by intermittent showers. People from neighboring villages have been providing rescue and relief assistance, with additional help arriving from the town and surrounding areas. Local residents attribute this natural disaster to deforestation and suggest that more trees need to be planted to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The flash floods have destroyed bridges along both the Ywa Ngan-Aung Ban road and the Yatsauk-Pindaya road, as well as numerous smaller bridges connecting various villages, making transportation difficult. Local residents emphasize the urgent need for emergency aid for Kun Saung village and call for the swift reconstruction of inter-village roads and bridges along the Yatsauk-Pindaya road.
