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Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Climate
- Free Malaysia Today
Flash floods kill 6 in Myanmar-China border town
The northern town of Laiza is a stronghold of the Kachin Independence Army. (EPA Images pic) YANGON : Monsoon floods in a rebel-held Myanmar town on the country's mountainous border with China have killed six people, a spokesman for the armed group controlling the area said today. The northern town of Laiza bordering China's Yunnan province has reported flash flooding since early Monday, when muddy waist-high waters began to stream through the streets. Laiza is a stronghold of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), which has for decades commanded control of its own ethnic enclave and emerged as one of the most powerful factions in Myanmar's civil war. 'A lot of water flowed down the mountain to the river,' said KIA spokesman Naw Bu. 'The flow of water was too strong and destroyed areas surrounding the river,' he added. 'Six people were killed in the flood and 100 houses were destroyed.' Rescue operation had begun today, he said, but were being hampered by road blockages. 'All of the roads have been damaged and the roads disappeared in some areas,' said one resident, who declined to be named for security reasons. 'The water rose suddenly.' More than 3.5 million people are currently displaced in Myanmar amid the civil war sparked by a 2021 coup, many sheltering in temporary camps, leaving them exposed to the elements. The resident said flooding was 'terrible' around local camps for the displaced where some shelters had been swept away and people had been wounded. Myanmar is in the midst of its monsoon season when daily deluges are common. But scientists say hazardous weather events are becoming more frequent and severe around the world as a result of human-driven climate change.
Arab News
6 days ago
- Climate
- Arab News
Flash floods kill 6 in Myanmar-China border town
YANGON: Monsoon floods in a rebel-held Myanmar town on the country's mountainous border with China have killed six people, a spokesman for the armed group controlling the area said Wednesday. The northern town of Laiza bordering China's Yunnan province has reported flash flooding since early Monday, when muddy waist-high waters began to stream through the streets. Laiza is a stronghold of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), which has for decades commanded control of its own ethnic enclave and emerged as one of the most powerful factions in Myanmar's civil war. 'A lot of water flowed down the mountain to the river,' said KIA spokesman Naw Bu. 'The flow of water was too strong and destroyed areas surrounding the river,' he added. 'Six people were killed in the flood and 100 houses were destroyed.' Rescue operation had begun on Wednesday, he said, but were being hampered by road blockages. 'All of the roads have been damaged and the roads disappeared in some areas,' said one resident, who declined to be named for security reasons. 'The water rose suddenly.' More than 3.5 million people are currently displaced in Myanmar amid the civil war sparked by a 2021 coup, many sheltering in temporary camps, leaving them exposed to the elements. The resident said flooding was 'terrible' around local camps for the displaced where some shelters had been swept away and people had been wounded. Myanmar is in the midst of its monsoon season when daily deluges are common. But scientists say hazardous weather events are becoming more frequent and severe around the world as a result of human-driven climate change.
The Star
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Myanmar junta battles guerillas for control of jade hub
Jade is considered auspicious in Chinese culture and high-quality stones can fetch astronomical sums. - Reuters YANGON: Myanmar's junta and anti-coup guerillas battled over the country's jade mining hub Friday (June 20), a combatant and a local said, displacing desperate civilians as they vied for supplies of the precious stone. Myanmar has been consumed by a many-sided civil war since a 2021 coup toppled the democratic government, with the myriad of fighting factions plundering the nation's vast natural resources to fill their coffers. Jade is considered auspicious in Chinese culture and high-quality stones can fetch astronomical sums. Fighting has raged during a Myanmar military offensive around villages and mining sites in Hpakant township of northern Kachin state, according to Naw Bu, spokesman of the Kachin Independence Army battling the junta in the area. "They came to the jade mining areas of some companies and they burned down trucks and destroyed other things," he added. "They intended to stop our income from jade mining." AFP was not able to verify the claim and a spokesman for Myanmar's junta could not be reached for comment. Battles in the area began around three weeks ago but continued in the early hours of Friday, Naw Bu said. A local resident who asked to remain anonymous said around 15 civilians had been killed since May 28 and "some residents didn't dare to stay in the combat zone and have been displaced". As Myanmar's civil war enters its fifth year, more than 3.5 million people in the country of around 50 million are currently displaced, according to United Nations figures. Kachin state hosts the largest jade deposits in the world according to geologists. Myanmar also has a huge and loosely-regulated mining sector for gold, rubies and rare earth minerals which has flourished in the war. China is also a key market for rare earth minerals, where they are used in electric vehicles the country is producing at prodigious rates. - AFP
Straits Times
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Myanmar junta battles guerillas for control of jade hub
Myanmar also has a huge and loosely-regulated mining sector for gold, rubies and rare earth minerals. PHOTO: AFP YANGON - Myanmar's junta and anti-coup guerillas battled over the country's jade mining hub on June 20, a combatant and a local said, displacing desperate civilians as they vied for supplies of the precious stone. Myanmar has been consumed by a many-sided civil war since a 2021 coup toppled the democratic government, with the myriad of fighting factions plundering the nation's vast natural resources to fill their coffers. Jade is considered auspicious in Chinese culture and high-quality stones can fetch astronomical sums in the neighbouring country. Fighting has raged during a Myanmar military offensive around villages and mining sites in Hpakant township of northern Kachin state, according to Mr Naw Bu, spokesman of the Kachin Independence Army battling the junta in the area. 'They came to the jade mining areas of some companies and they burned down trucks and destroyed other things,' he added. 'They intended to stop our income from jade mining.' AFP was not able to verify the claim and a spokesman for Myanmar's junta could not be reached for comment. Battles in the area began around three weeks ago but continued in the early hours of June 20, Mr Naw Bu said. A local resident who asked to remain anonymous said around 15 civilians had been killed since May 28 and 'some residents didn't dare to stay in the combat zone and have been displaced'. As Myanmar's civil war enters its fifth year, more than 3.5 million people in the South-east Asian country of around 50 million are currently displaced, according to United Nations figures. Kachin state hosts the largest jade deposits in the world according to geologists. Myanmar also has a huge and loosely-regulated mining sector for gold, rubies and rare earth minerals which has flourished in the war. China is also a key market for rare earth minerals, where they are used in electric vehicles the country is producing at prodigious rates. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Myanmar junta battles guerillas for control of jade hub
AI- Generated Image YANGON: Myanmar's junta and anti-coup guerillas battled over the country's jade mining hub Friday, a combatant and a local said, displacing desperate civilians as they vied for supplies of the precious stone. Myanmar has been consumed by a many-sided civil war since a 2021 coup toppled the democratic government, with the myriad of fighting factions plundering the nation's vast natural resources to fill their coffers. Jade is considered auspicious in Chinese culture and high-quality stones can fetch astronomical sums in the neighbouring country. Fighting has raged during a Myanmar military offensive around villages and mining sites in Hpakant township of northern Kachin state, according to Naw Bu, spokesman of the Kachin Independence Army battling the junta in the area. "They came to the jade mining areas of some companies and they burned down trucks and destroyed other things," he added. "They intended to stop our income from jade mining." AFP was not able to verify the claim and a spokesman for Myanmar's junta could not be reached for comment. Battles in the area began around three weeks ago but continued in the early hours of Friday, Naw Bu said. A local resident who asked to remain anonymous said around 15 civilians had been killed since May 28 and "some residents didn't dare to stay in the combat zone and have been displaced". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo As Myanmar's civil war enters its fifth year, more than 3.5 million people in the Southeast Asian country of around 50 million are currently displaced, according to United Nations figures. Kachin state hosts the largest jade deposits in the world according to geologists. Myanmar also has a huge and loosely-regulated mining sector for gold, rubies and rare earth minerals which has flourished in the war. China is also a key market for rare earth minerals, where they are used in electric vehicles the country is producing at prodigious rates.
