Sunday 4 May 2008

Over 200 dies in violent cyclone in Myanmar

22:29' 04/05/2008 (GMT+7)
A total of 222 died in the violent cyclone storm Nargis that swept Myanmar's five divisions and states on Friday and Saturday, the State Radio and Television reported Sunday evening.
Altogether 92,006 people were left homeless, the report said.
The deadly cyclone, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, entered Myanmar on Friday morning and lashed areas in southwestern coastal areas of Haing Gyi Island, Pathein, Myaungmya, Laputta, Mawlamyinegyun, Kyaiklat, Phyarpon, Bogalay.
On the same day, the Nargis, at a wind speed of about 192 kilometers per hour with a diameter of 240 km, hit the biggest city Yangon starting from midnight until Saturday noon, lasting for over 10 hours.
Some five vessels capsized in the Yangon Port, official report said earlier.
Myanmar has declared five divisions and states, namely Yangon, Bago, Ayeyawaddy, Kayin and Mon, as natural-disaster-hit regions.
A national central committee for prevention of natural disaster was also formed with Prime Minister General Thein Sein as chairman to promptly and effectively carry out relief and resettlement tasks.
According to the report, Thein Sein made a field trip to the disaster-hit areas Sunday.

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