Strong winds damage retaining wall in Pauktaw Twsp village

By DMG 25 May 2021

DMG Newsroom
25 May 2021, Pauktaw

Residents from Hsin Tat Maw village in Pauktaw Township, Arakan State, say their retaining wall was damaged by strong winds on Tuesday morning.

U Than Naing, a resident of Hsin Tat Maw village, said a storm caused gusty winds and strong waves that washed away some village roads and houses into the nearby river, as well as a retaining wall built in February of last year.

“The retaining wall, which was built last year at a cost of about 1,500 lakhs, is now collapsing due to this wave. Nearly 400 feet of retaining wall was damaged,” he said. “The road next to the embankment was washed away. Some plots of land were also slightly damaged. It is not even the rainy season yet. If it is damaged like this, it will collapse in the rainy season. Relevant authorities need to take responsibility.”

There are about 50 houses near the retaining wall, and locals say all the houses along the riverbank could be washed away if the high waves continue.

Daw Khin Khin Kyi, who lives near the river, told DMG that the waves also washed away some property and consumer goods.

“The storm has not even hit yet. It collapsed due to the waves. If the storm hits, all the houses on this riverbank will be destroyed. We have to move everything in our house. Living here is no longer tenable. If the waves hit, everything would be gone. All the houses along the riverbank are worried,” she said.

U Aye Tun, a resident in Hsin Tat Maw village, said the retaining wall needed to be repaired by the relevant organisations, and if not repaired this year, houses along the beach during the rainy season would be a major concern.

“The road near our house was flooded. If this embankment is not rebuilt this year, it will be very difficult. Locals will not be able to afford to buy new properties without staying there due to the poor economic situation. Therefore, the government and relevant organisations need to repair this retaining wall as soon as possible,” he explained.

Construction of the retaining wall in Hsin Tat Maw village began in February 2020.

There are more than 300 houses in Hsin Tat Maw village, where locals are mainly engaged in fishing.