Man drowns in floodwaters in Kyauktaw Twsp village

By Admin 11 Jul 2026

DMG Newsroom

11 July 2026, Kyauktaw

A 30-year-old man drowned amid severe monsoon flooding in Shwetalae Village, Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State, according to local sources.

The victim, identified as Ko Kyaw Soe Than, went missing at around 6 p.m. on 9 July while walking home alone after drinking with friends in the village.

Following a search operation conducted by officials from the United League of Arakan (ULA) and community elders, Ko Kyaw Soe Than's body was recovered near Thayet Tapin Village at around 7 a.m. on 11 July.

"He went to drink with his friends and the accident happened on his way home alone. We searched for him for about two days. With the floodwaters being so high and him being intoxicated, he likely lost his balance and was swept away," a family member of the deceased said.

Officials from the United League of Arakan are investigating the incident.

Severe flooding continues to affect villages in the Thayichaung area of Kyauktaw Township, including Shwetalae, Kyauktalone, Sabarseik, Mahamuni, Nyaungchaung, Thayet Tapin, Ywamapyin, Kyarnetkan and Leikma, prompting authorities to urge residents to remain vigilant.

"As the heavy rains show no sign of stopping, the situation remains alarming. Residents in this area should not underestimate the dangers posed by flooding," a United League of Arakan official from the Kyauktalone village-tract said.

In some low-lying villages in the Thayichaung area, floodwaters have risen to about five feet, prompting the United League of Arakan to expand emergency rescue and relief operations.

Continuous heavy rains since 4 July have caused widespread flooding across at least eight townships in Arakan State, including Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Ponnagyun, Buthidaung, Maungdaw and Rathedaung.

The Humanitarian and Development Coordination Office (HDCO) said the flooding has caused riverbank erosion, damaged roads and bridges, and claimed several lives. The agency warned that continued rainfall could worsen the flooding and stressed the need for immediate emergency response measures.