Floodwaters from the N’Mai Kha River and rain runoff from surrounding hills have destroyed five bridges in Naungmon Township in Kachin State’s Putao District.

The flooding was the result of heavy rains that started last week, at the end of May 2025.

The largest bridge to get destroyed in the flooding was the bridge over the Namtamai Stream at the entrance to Pannandin Town, which lies on the banks of the N’Mai Kha River in Naungmon Township.

Four suspension bridges connecting villages in Naungmon Township, including those between Dazon and Gawaing, and between Dazon and Tasuhtu, were also destroyed. An unknown number of smaller bridges were also lost in the Township.

A woman from Naungmon Township who confirmed that five bridges had been destroyed said to KNG: “The bridge at the entrance to Pannandin Town was washed away by the floodwaters on 2 June. We've heard that bridges in villages like Tasuhtu and Gawaing were also washed away. Right now, there's no way to get to these villages, so communication with them has been cut off.”

She explained: “The bridges that got washed away were large suspension bridges. Without them, it’s really hard to get around here. The streams are wide, and since there are no bridges now, you just can’t cross from one side to the other.”

The destruction of the bridges has also prevented children from villages around Naungmon Town from attending school in the town.

A source from Naungmon Town said: “A lot of kids from villages like Gawaing, Dazon, and Mahponekan used to come into [Naungmon] town for school. But now, even though schools have reopened, they can’t come. They’re stuck in their villages because the bridges were destroyed. It’s really important to find a way for these children to get to school.”

The bridge at the entrance of Pannandin Town had already previously been destroyed by floods in September 2020 and been rebuilt.

As well as washing away bridges the flooding in Naungmon Town also submerged homes, farmland and orchards causing widespread damage.