Hundreds feared dead in Burma cyclone
- added May 3, 2008
- 6 responses
-
-
-
- mischabarrett
- added this
-
-
- related topics
-
- World (2613)
- Current News UK (1465)
- International (745)
- Weather (411)
- Asia (338)
- Burma (183)
- Cyclone (40)
- Southeast Asia (26)
A cyclone has hit Burma's Irrawaddy delta and Rangoon, killing nearly 250 people, destroying 20,000 houses and flattening two towns, according to a state television report. Burma's military government declared disaster zones in five states
after 120 mph winds hit the area.
The Internet, land, mobile and satellite phone connections were down and the authorities were forced to close the one airport serving the sprawling city of 5 million people. The ruling military junta had declared states of emergency in five affected provinces, most of them in the low-lying floodplains of the Irrawaddy delta.
It was impossible to contact anybody inside Burma to confirm the report.
The electricity supply in Yangon -- hit-and-miss at the best of times in one of Asia's poorest countries -- failed after Cyclone Nargis started to lash the former capital on Friday evening.
There were no immediate reports of deaths, but meteorological officials said the cyclone could trigger a storm surge of up to 12 feet (3.5 metres) in coastal areas.
State-run MRTV and Yangon City Radio were off the air and the streets were virtually deserted. Buses and trains were not operating due to extensive flooding.
See also http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/04/burma?gusrc...
after 120 mph winds hit the area.
The Internet, land, mobile and satellite phone connections were down and the authorities were forced to close the one airport serving the sprawling city of 5 million people. The ruling military junta had declared states of emergency in five affected provinces, most of them in the low-lying floodplains of the Irrawaddy delta.
It was impossible to contact anybody inside Burma to confirm the report.
The electricity supply in Yangon -- hit-and-miss at the best of times in one of Asia's poorest countries -- failed after Cyclone Nargis started to lash the former capital on Friday evening.
There were no immediate reports of deaths, but meteorological officials said the cyclone could trigger a storm surge of up to 12 feet (3.5 metres) in coastal areas.
State-run MRTV and Yangon City Radio were off the air and the streets were virtually deserted. Buses and trains were not operating due to extensive flooding.
See also http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/04/burma?gusrc...
-
-
-
-
- mischabarrett
- 5 months ago
-
I hope this isn't just another natural disaster that's ignored by the western world. I hope the effects of this storm are limited among the population.
-
its nature doing what it does best. nothing to be done about it. send food and aid like everyone always does and move on.
-
Let's hope it doesn't cause more carnage in Thailand. I'm not sure what would be more scary - encountering that beast in the middle of a city, or in the middle of nowhere...
-
-
-
-
- mischabarrett
- 5 months ago
-
-
I'd rather be in the middle of nowhere when it hit...less things to smash into me. But then in the aftermath, I'd want to be somewhere that I could get help and clean water. I hope the death toll doesn't rise too sharply.
-
Here is some video from the BBC it shows some pretty horrific weather damage. I hope that the death toll stays low. I am sure the people of Burma have enough problems already ... -
Would the current Burmese military junta accept aid ?
I think not, they will probably keep the true scale of the disaster from their own citizens.
Login/Registration is required to add a response.
