The U.S. Embassy in Rangoon alerts U.S. citizens residing in, or traveling to Burma that the Water Festival in Burma, also known as Thingyan, will take place the week of April 11, 2016. In the past, festive gatherings during Thingyan have led to increases in incidents of drunk driving, occasional criminal behavior, and unexpected violence, such as a bomb attack at one of the water spraying platforms, known as “pandals,” which killed ten people and wounded more than 170 people in 2010.
While there are no known specific threats against U.S. citizens, the Embassy advises U.S. citizens to take normal precautions to ensure your safety and security. When in public areas, stay alert and be aware of your surroundings at all times. If you see something suspicious, report it to the authorities, if possible, and leave the area immediately.
For further information:
- See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts,and Burma Country Specific Information.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Contact the U.S. Embassy in Burma, located at 110 University Avenue, Kamayut Township, at +95 1 536 509, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Please note that the Embassy will be closed throughout Thingyan, April 11-18, 2016 . After-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is +95 (0)95124330, or +95 1 500 547.
- Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
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