Thousands homeless in Myanmar floods

YANGON: Thousands of people were left homeless after floods swept through central Myanmar, washing out bridges, closing schools and forcing a suspension in rail service, state media said on Monday.   

Heavy rains last week have sent flood waters rising up to four feet (1.2 metres), forcing thousands of people into emergency shelters, the state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper said. Some rail services were suspended and schools were closed in parts of the capital Yangon and several surrounding provinces, the paper said.   

At least one bridge was washed out in Bago division, 50 kilometres (30 miles) north of Yangon, where residents waded with their belongings through knee-deep water to reach higher ground. Official media did not report any casualties or give further details on those left homeless.   

A tornado also hit the northern part of Yangon division on Friday, injuring four and damaging 80 homes, the paper said. The tornado was the second in two weeks, after an earlier one killed a woman and injured seven people in the capital on June 28.   

Myanmar's rainy season began in June, and seasonal flooding is an annual problem here.  Some parts of Myanmar have experienced record rainfall while others have seen the heaviest downpours in decades, state media said.