Death Toll in Myanmar Rises to 74 After Devastating Floods and Landslides
The death toll from the severe flooding and landslides triggered by Typhoon Yagi in Myanmar has surged to at least 74, with 89 people still missing, according to state television reports on Saturday. The number of casualties, more than double the 33 reported a day earlier, has raised concerns that the true toll may be even higher due to ongoing difficulties in compiling information.
A video posted on X showed people being rescued from flooded streets, offering a glimpse into the devastation caused by the storm. Typhoon Yagi had previously wreaked havoc in Vietnam, northern Thailand, and Laos, resulting in more than 260 deaths and widespread destruction.
In response to the escalating crisis, Myanmar’s military government has begun requesting international relief aid, as confirmed by state media. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the ruling military council, called for urgent foreign assistance to support rescue and relief operations.
Nearly 240,000 people have been displaced by the flooding, adding to the already dire situation in the country. At the start of September, the United Nations refugee agency estimated that 3.4 million people were displaced in Myanmar due to the ongoing civil conflict that erupted in 2021, following the military’s seizure of power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
The most affected areas include low-lying regions in central Myanmar, such as Mandalay and Bago, as well as eastern Shan state and the capital city, Naypyitaw. The storm’s impact has been felt across the country since Wednesday.
Min Aung Hlaing and military officials have been overseeing relief efforts, inspecting flooded areas, and assessing the damage. The state-run Myanma Alinn newspaper reported that the military leader urged officials to expedite rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts, emphasizing the need for international assistance.
The extent of the destruction remains unclear, with local news outlets reporting more than 100 people still unaccounted for. Efforts to deliver aid and assess the damage are further complicated by Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, which has left the military in control of less than half of the country’s territory, according to independent analysts.
Myanmar has a history of extreme weather events during the monsoon season, with the most devastating being Cyclone Nargis in 2008, which claimed more than 138,000 lives. At that time, the military government delayed accepting international aid, tightly controlling its distribution.
As of Saturday evening, Myanmar’s state television reported widespread damage to infrastructure, including 24 bridges, 375 schools, five dams, four pagodas, and over 65,000 homes across central and eastern regions. In Bagan, a UNESCO World Heritage site, record rainfall—the heaviest in 60 years—caused the collapse of several century-old temple walls.
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