Deadly Landslides Devastate Than Taung Gyi, Karen State — Urgent Humanitarian Aid Needed

August 11, 2025

HURFOM: Community leaders, religious groups, and humanitarian networks are urgently appealing for help as heavy rains have caused deadly landslides in Than Taung Gyi Township, northern Karen State. Many lives have been lost, homes destroyed, and families left with nothing. They are calling on all domestic and international donors to act now with safe shelter, food, and medical support for survivors whose needs are growing by the day.

Since late July, relentless heavy rains have pounded the region, and by 9 August, landslides had swept through multiple areas, including Wards 1, 3, and 4 near Naw Bu Baw Pray Hill in Than Taung Gyi Town. Several villages, including Leikpyar Lay and Kho Wae, were also severely affected. By the night of 9 August, at least 13 people had been confirmed dead, including a two-year-old child. Local sources said the death toll could rise further, as there are still missing persons and search efforts are ongoing.

“I was truly shocked to see whole layers of earth collapsing, mixed with floodwaters and uprooted trees. The roads are so badly buried under mud and debris that repairing them feels impossible. The roads connecting the town are severely damaged, and landslides are happening everywhere in the villages around Than Taung Gyi. Many farms and orchards have been wiped out. Some families have lost five or even eight acres of land — their entire source of income. Now they have nothing left to survive on. Everything is destroyed, and even food supplies can no longer reach us,” said a local villager.

On the afternoon of 9 August, a massive landslide completely buried Lower Hteepuchee village, about 15 miles from Than Taung Gyi. Survivors have fled to safer areas, erecting makeshift shelters in the town and nearby villages.“We have no homes left. We are staying in safer places, sometimes with relatives, or setting up temporary shelters on open ground instead of the steep slopes. At least it is safer here — but when the rain comes again, there is always the risk of more landslides,” one displaced villager said.
Damaged roads have made it impossible for some humanitarian aid to reach the hardest-hit areas.

Currently, local communities, religious leaders, and charity groups are leading the relief response, doing what they can with limited resources. Landslides and collapsed bridges have also been reported along the Taungoo–Than Taung Gyi road and on connecting village roads, further isolating affected communities.
Community leaders, religious groups, and humanitarian networks are urgently calling on all domestic and international donors to respond to the needs of survivors in Than Taung Gyi, where lives and livelihoods have been devastated, and safe shelter, food, and medical assistance are urgently needed.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News