Flooding has always been one of the major hazards in Myanmar, accounting for 11% of all disasters, second only to fire. Between 1910 and 2000, there were 12 major floods. The Ayeyarwady River basin alone, the largest in the country, covers 404,200 square kilometer of the country. Over 2 million people are exposed to flood hazard in Myanmar every year.

In Myanmar, the threat of flooding usually occurs in three waves each year: June, August and late September to October with biggest danger arriving in August as peak monsoon rains occur around that time. In general, the catchment areas of major rivers in the north and central zone are prone to riverine floods. The mountainous and hilly in Kayin, Kachin, Shan, Mon and Chin States areas are threatened by flash floods. Along the coastal region in Rakhine State, floods are secondary hazard generated by cyclones.

At the national level, the main responsibility of flood monitoring, weather forecasting and issuance of early warning falls on the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH). Under the guidance of the Director General of DMH, a Flood Committee headed by the Deputy Director General has been formed to take responsibilities for issuing flood warnings. Warnings are disseminated through different channels of communication such as radio, television, newspaper, telegraph and telephone to the administrative authorities of the flood prone areas.

The key agency for flood risk mitigation in the country is the Irrigation Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation. Myanmar Red Cross Society is the leading force in implementing Community Based Flood Management capacity building programs in selected flood vulnerable areas in the country.

(Reference from Hazard Profile of Myanmar, July 2009)