Construction, fixes completed on six flood-hit bridges in Maungdaw Twsp 

By DMG 23 Aug 2021

DMG Newsroom
23 August 2021, Maungdaw 

Construction and repairs have been completed on six of seven inter-village bridges in northern Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, that were damaged by recent flooding. 

The seven rural bridges in Maungdaw Township were damaged or destroyed by floodwaters due to incessant rains and heavy downpours in Arakan State in the last week of July. 

“The other one is not finished yet because the construction materials have not arrived yet. We are working to complete the remaining bridge by the end of this month,” said U Hla Thein, chairman of the Arakan State military council’s Information Team. 

The unfinished bridge, the 200-foot-long Letyar Chaung Bridge — is about 45% complete, said U Tun Chay, an administrator of Thittonenar village, which is located near the bridge. 

“We aim to complete construction of the Letyar Chaung Bridge by the end of this month,” said U San Shwe, an engineer with Road and Bridge Special Group 7. 

The flood damage to the bridges in northern Maungdaw Township, which served as critical inter-village links, made it difficult for the township disaster management department and civil society organisations to reach and assist flood victims. 

Local people in about 20 villages in northern Maungdaw Township had difficulty getting around and faced food shortages. 

Flooding was also reported in Thandwe, Taungup, Gwa, Kyaukphyu and other townships in Arakan State in late July. The floods caused power outages in some of the affected townships, and hurt farmers whose fields were inundated.