Flooding in Myanmar forces 85,000 people to flee

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At least 85,000 people in Myanmar have fled their homes as the worst monsoon flooding in years submerged hundreds of thousands of acres (hectares) of rice fields, a government relief official said on Saturday.

Heavy rains over the last few weeks caused the inundation, which primarily affected the country's southern delta region, said Soe Tun, a member of the government's emergency response team.

Around 70,000 people have been displaced in the delta and are being housed at 219 emergency relief centers set up at schools and monasteries, he said. Another 15,000 people have been displaced elsewhere in the country, and more than 600,000 acres (240,000 hectares) of rice fields have been swamped, he said.

Annual monsoon rains often cause flooding in the region, and this year's are the heaviest since 2004, Soe Tun said.

However, the delta region was devastated in 2008 by Cyclone Nargis, which killed about 130,000 people and destroyed more than 800,000 homes and buildings.

No casualties have been confirmed during the recent floods, which have affected 200,000 people nationwide whose fields have been swamped with water, Soe Tun said.

Some families, which have not fled have moved to the upper floors of their dwellings.

Local newspapers have reported that heavy rains and flooding also damaged bridges, homes and rail lines.