Heavy Wind Kills Two and Injures Six in Sagaing

By Zarni Mann 15 May 2017

MANDALAY — Heavy wind killed two people, injured six, and destroyed dozens of homes in Kani Township, Sagaing Division, as strong winds hit the region for the second time this month.

A woman in her 50s and her 20-year-old son died when their home collapsed as the winds hit Quarter No. 3.

“Quarter No. 3 suffered the most damage. Almost all of the homes in the quarter were destroyed,” said U Tun Tun Naing, a Sagaing divisional lawmaker from Kani Township.

Six other people were injured and are currently hospitalized at Kani General Hospital, while some 100 homes, and government and office buildings, were destroyed.

The lawmaker said the town needs aid to rebuild, as this is the second incident this month.

“Some of the homes were just renovated when the wind struck again. Without aid, reconstruction will be difficult,” he said.

Heavy winds on May 6 destroyed some 600 homes in the region.

Sagaing Division Chief Minister U Myint Naing visited the area on Monday and said the divisional government was planning to give financial support to the families who suffered fatalities, injuries and loss of property.

Strong winds and heavy rains, signs of the upcoming monsoon season, hit upper Burma on Sunday, primarily in Sagaing and Mandalay.

Meteorologist U Tun Lwin forecasted that from Monday, monsoons would bring greetings of heavy wind, rain, hail and thunder to many regions of the country.