Myanmar flood toll rises to 96

Yangon: The toll from severe floods in Myanmar has risen to 96, the ministry of social welfare, relief and resettlement said on Sunday.

Rising river water is threatening to inundate Ayeyawaddy region, Xinhua reported.

The residents in low-lying areas of Ayeyawaddy are being alerted and urged to move to safer places as the Ayeyawaddy and Ngawun rivers remained above the danger levels in Hinthada, Nyaungdon, Zalun and Seiktha regions.

Floods, triggered by heavy rainfall since June, have severely affected Myanmar, destroying houses, farmland, railway lines, bridges and roads.

The Myanmar government declared on July 31 four disaster zones - Rakhine, Chin, Sagaing and Magway, of which Rakhine state was worst hit.

More than 330,000 people have been affected.