Heavy and persistent rainfall has triggered landslides and rockfalls in the Htipawng Village Tract of Pinlaung Township, southern Shan State, forcing residents to flee their homes in search of safety.

Since early July, villagers in Loimaw, nestled on the slopes of Loi Maw, the highest mountain in Pinlaung, have faced increasing danger as rain-soaked soil gives way, sending large boulders crashing into homes on the western edge of the village. At least 30 residents have been displaced, with some seeking shelter in Pinlaung town.

“The village is on a steep hillside. When it rains, rocks fall directly into the homes. Some houses have also been flooded. People are now moving to areas where rainwater doesn’t flow as much, or all the way to Pinlaung town,” one resident told SHAN.

Loimaw Village is no stranger to disaster. In 2024, it suffered devastating landslides and flash floods that claimed lives and destroyed infrastructure. Fearing a repeat of last year’s tragedy, families are now evacuating preemptively.

“We remember how bad it was last year. Roads were swept away. People living on the slopes are scared. This year, they’re leaving before it’s too late,” said a 26-year-old local assisting the displaced.

Most of the affected families are now staying with relatives in safer parts of Loimaw or in town. Meanwhile, concerns are mounting in nearby Sanhpu Village Tract in Hopong Township, where similar conditions are threatening other hillside communities near the Mae Nae Taung mountain range, also known locally as Loimaw.

“In some places, the roads are already unusable. They’re being damaged again like last year, and fences we rebuilt have collapsed. Some villagers now refuse to sleep in their hillside homes, and they’d rather stay on flat ground,” said a Sanhpu resident.

The region experienced catastrophic landslides in September 2024, which killed 21 people and caused widespread destruction, according to local sources. With rainfall continuing, vulnerable communities across Pinlaung and Hopong remain on high alert.