Myanmar cyclone death toll at 15,000
Source: alalam.ir, 06-05-2008
YANGON-The death toll from the Myanmar cyclone has risen to more than 15,000 people, Myanmar's government says.
According to Xinhua news agency at least 10,000 killed in the township of Bogalay alone.
Survivors were facing their third night without electricity in the aftermath of the historic cyclone that also clogged roads with thousands of downed trees.
Diplomats were summoned to a government briefing Monday as the reclusive southeast Asian country's ruling military junta issued a rare appeal for international assistance in the face of an escalating humanitarian crisis.
A state of emergency was declared across much of the country following the 10-hour storm that left swathes of destruction in its wake.
The death toll of more than 15,000 makes the weekend cyclone the deadliest natural disaster to hit Myanmar in recent history, according to figures compiled by a UN-funded disaster database.
The toll eclipses that from a 1926 wind storm that killed about 2,700 people in the country, according to the database.
The government of neighboring Thailand said Myanmar's leaders had already requested food, medical supplies and construction equipment.
The first plane-load of supplies was due to arrive Tuesday, a Thai spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement he was "deeply saddened by the loss of life and the destruction suffered by the people of Myanmar" and pledged to mobilize international aid and assistance as needed.
A United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team is on stand-by to assist the government in responding to humanitarian needs if required, the statement said.
Scenes of the destruction showed extensive flooding, boats on their sides in Yangon harbor, roofs ripped off buildings, uprooted trees and downed power lines after cyclone Nargis battered the Irrawaddy delta with 150 mile (240 km/h) an hour winds throughout Friday night and Saturday morning, dumping 20 inches of rain.
Residents of Yangon trudged through knee-deep swirling brown waters Monday as the delta city remained mostly without electricity and phone connections.
The US Embassy in Myanmar has issued a "disaster declaration" in the country and authorized the release of $250,000 for cyclone relief efforts, Deputy State Department spokesman Tom Casey said Monday.
A disaster relief team is standing by, Casey said, but the Myanmar government had not given permission for the team to enter the country.
Hakan Tongkul, with the United Nation's World Food Program, said residents in Yangon needed urgent assistance.
"This has pushed people to the edge. All that they have has been blown away."
Michael Annear, regional disaster manger for the Red Cross, said the group was helping provide safe drinking water.
Relief agencies met at the United Nations' Bangkok headquarters Monday to coordinate their response to the disaster.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said it had released 200,000 Swiss Francs (about $190,000) to help with the aftermath.
A state of emergency was declared Sunday across five regions: the city of Yangon, Irrawaddy, Pegu and the states of Karen and Mon. All flights to Yangon, the former capital, were canceled.
"Most Burmese with whom we've been in touch report they lost their roofs, although so far everyone we have been able to contact reports that they and their families are safe," said a Yangon-based diplomat who requested anonymity.
In some places, the price of fuel had quadrupled to $10 a gallon. Even with that price lines for gas stretched around the block and some sought to buy gas on the black market.
YANGON-The death toll from the Myanmar cyclone has risen to more than 15,000 people, Myanmar's government says.
According to Xinhua news agency at least 10,000 killed in the township of Bogalay alone.
Survivors were facing their third night without electricity in the aftermath of the historic cyclone that also clogged roads with thousands of downed trees.
Diplomats were summoned to a government briefing Monday as the reclusive southeast Asian country's ruling military junta issued a rare appeal for international assistance in the face of an escalating humanitarian crisis.
A state of emergency was declared across much of the country following the 10-hour storm that left swathes of destruction in its wake.
The death toll of more than 15,000 makes the weekend cyclone the deadliest natural disaster to hit Myanmar in recent history, according to figures compiled by a UN-funded disaster database.
The toll eclipses that from a 1926 wind storm that killed about 2,700 people in the country, according to the database.
The government of neighboring Thailand said Myanmar's leaders had already requested food, medical supplies and construction equipment.
The first plane-load of supplies was due to arrive Tuesday, a Thai spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement he was "deeply saddened by the loss of life and the destruction suffered by the people of Myanmar" and pledged to mobilize international aid and assistance as needed.
A United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team is on stand-by to assist the government in responding to humanitarian needs if required, the statement said.
Scenes of the destruction showed extensive flooding, boats on their sides in Yangon harbor, roofs ripped off buildings, uprooted trees and downed power lines after cyclone Nargis battered the Irrawaddy delta with 150 mile (240 km/h) an hour winds throughout Friday night and Saturday morning, dumping 20 inches of rain.
Residents of Yangon trudged through knee-deep swirling brown waters Monday as the delta city remained mostly without electricity and phone connections.
The US Embassy in Myanmar has issued a "disaster declaration" in the country and authorized the release of $250,000 for cyclone relief efforts, Deputy State Department spokesman Tom Casey said Monday.
A disaster relief team is standing by, Casey said, but the Myanmar government had not given permission for the team to enter the country.
Hakan Tongkul, with the United Nation's World Food Program, said residents in Yangon needed urgent assistance.
"This has pushed people to the edge. All that they have has been blown away."
Michael Annear, regional disaster manger for the Red Cross, said the group was helping provide safe drinking water.
Relief agencies met at the United Nations' Bangkok headquarters Monday to coordinate their response to the disaster.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said it had released 200,000 Swiss Francs (about $190,000) to help with the aftermath.
A state of emergency was declared Sunday across five regions: the city of Yangon, Irrawaddy, Pegu and the states of Karen and Mon. All flights to Yangon, the former capital, were canceled.
"Most Burmese with whom we've been in touch report they lost their roofs, although so far everyone we have been able to contact reports that they and their families are safe," said a Yangon-based diplomat who requested anonymity.
In some places, the price of fuel had quadrupled to $10 a gallon. Even with that price lines for gas stretched around the block and some sought to buy gas on the black market.
