Landslide kills 9 in Myanmar’s Tachileik, across Thailand

BANGKOK, July 14 (TNA) - Persistent rains have caused a landslide in Tachileik town of Myanmar, killing at least nine people. It has rained for days in the Myanmar town opposite Mae Sai district of Thailand's Chiang Rai province. The landslide hit houses in Wang Kong village of Tachileik about three kilometers from the first Thai-Myanmar friendship bridge. The tragedy took place at about 2am on July 13 while villagers were sleeping. The dead comprised two men, two women and five children. Myanmar authorities believe they were members of two families. The landslide hit their one-floor multi-family building standing next to a hill where Para rubber trees were grown. Eight other villagers were trapped and later rescued. Local authorities provide affected people with assistance and warn other people living in landslide-prone areas to take precautions and follow up warnings. In the northern resort province of Chiang Mai, the runoff hit Chai Prakan district on Saturday. About 700 houses were underwater but locals had been evacuated and received assistance from the government. In the southern province of Trang, the fishing village was hit by waves which were about three meters high. The strong waves also caused a flood which was 30-50 centimeters deep in the village. Children and old people were evacuated from the village but locals' belongings remained there and were damaged. (TNA)