The department of Inland Water Transport has instructed ferry services operating in Arakan State to suspend operations from August 18-20 due to forecasts predicting dangerous conditions brought on by a depression and cyclonic circulation off the coast of Arakan State. 

Many townships in the commercial capital Yangon were flooded by torrential rains that began just after midnight on Wednesday and lasted for hours. 

Some urban residential areas in Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu have reportedly been inundated with floodwaters, with residents being evacuated to safer locations due to continuous rains since midday on August 16. 

Burglaries were reported in Arakan State’s Kyauktaw and Maungdaw townships in the early hours of August 17, with the wife of one homeowner attacked in the incident. 

More than 350,000 people in Kayin (Karen) State have been displaced post-coup as a result of fighting between Myanmar’s military regime and resistance forces in areas controlled by the Karen National Union (KNU), according to a press statement from KNU Central. 

The Arakan National Council/Arakan Army (ANC/AA) and Arakan Liberation Party/Arakan Liberation Army (ALP/ALA) have rejected recent remarks from the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) spokesman, in which he asserted that there was no need for revolutionary armed forces in Arakan State other than the AA.

Local farmers in Magyitaw and Ahmaw villages on Taungup Township’s Pantin Island say they are unable to cultivate paddy on dozens of acres of farmland damaged by seawater. 

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year could have the unintended side effect of delaying a decision on the bid to have the ancient Arakanese city of Mrauk-U designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, according to the Department of Archaeology and National Museum.  

Local people in Arakan State’s Maungdaw Township are concerned about possible food shortages as the Myanmar military has blocked off the main road linking the township with state capital Sittwe following fighting with the Arakan Army (AA) on Saturday. 

A 2-year-old toddler died and five other civilians were injured on Monday when regime troops fired artillery in response to resistance attacks on junta departments in Kawkareik Township, Kayin (Karen) State, according to locals. 

“If the ministers of the regime’s Arakan State government only indulge in their power and authority against the people, and continue to harm the people just to please the regime … we have previously warned that we would handle [them] accordingly, in accordance with the needs of the situation, our revolution, public security and the Way of Rakhita,” said U Khaing Thukha, spokesman for the Arakan Army, at an online press conference.

Family members said that a woman from Yishin village in Arakan State’s Myebon Township died of her injuries last week after being beaten by a shaman who claimed that she was possessed. 

A woman died and three other people were injured in a road accident on Monday near Kyaukseik village in Ponnagyun Township. 

As a result of Myanmar’s political and economic crises, women are more vulnerable to violence and predation than they were pre-coup, according to Arakanese women’s activists. 

Hundreds of residents who fled their homes for safer locations after the Myanmar military clashed with the Arakan Army in Rathedaung Township over the weekend are reportedly unable to return home. 

Clashes between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) have continued for three consecutive days in Arakan State and Chin State’s Paletwa Township, the AA said on Monday, as some of the latest fighting was reported east of the Kaladan River in Paletwa Township. 

Arakanese farmers say they are facing difficulties replanting paddy fields that have been hard-hit by drought in Arakan state. 

The Myanmar military has blockaded the Angumaw-Maungdaw road since the evening of August 13, said locals and drivers.

The domestic gold price reached a new record high of more than K2.75 million per tical for 24-K gold on Saturday, according to gold shop owners.