Flash floods and mudslides triggered by incessant rains killed 22 people in Mogok, the Myanmar city, which produces one of the finest rubies in the world. Environmental degradation, common to many parts of the country, is blamed for the tragedy.

It began raining heavily in the wee hours of Friday morning. Flash floods created by the heavy rain broke a water bunker along the Yayni creek flooding Mogok.


The rushing waters triggered mud slides, destroyed several houses, and flooded roads.

The city is home to one of the finest rubies that Myanmar produces. Mogok is located about 400 miles north of Yangon.


The eastern part of the town like Laypay, Taungni, Thephyuwine, Ohnkine, Laioo quarters were the worst effected, the Myanmar media in exile reported. The city has experiences such landslides in the past. A large ground where traders assemble to sell rubies and gems was said to be littered with debris. The last floods occurred in August 2007.


As is the norm in Myanmar, the official news media controlled by the military junta largely ignores such tragedies. The New Light of Myanmar published a small news item. It did not bother to give details or mention the deaths and the damage to the city.


As in many parts of Myanmar, environmental damage has been causing such natural calamities. In the gem mines in the region heavy machinery is in use. The debris and the waste find their way into the Yayni creek leading to flash floods during the monsoons, the media said.