Death toll in Myanmar floods rises to 226
September 17, 20242 Mins Read
International Desk: The death toll from the severe floods caused by Typhoon Yagi in Myanmar has doubled to 226. The United Nations has warned that more than 630,000 people need help in the country.
Typhoon Yagi hit North Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar more than a week ago. Strong winds and heavy rains have caused floods and landslides. As a result, more than 500 people have died in the region, according to official data.
Myanmar's state television confirmed the death of 226 people on Monday night. 77 people are still missing.
The broadcaster also reported that about 260,000 hectares of rice and other crops were destroyed in the flood.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), an estimated 631,000 people have been affected by the floods across Myanmar.
UNOCHA says Myanmar urgently needs food, water, shelter and clothing. The organization has warned that the relief operations are being severely hampered due to the collapse of all communication systems including blocked roads, damaged bridges.
Due to poor communication system, information about the damage is also coming in slowly. This problem is more in remote areas.
The United Nations World Food Program said yesterday that this is the worst flood in Myanmar's recent history . However, the agency did not say anything in detail about the flood.
In the meantime, the junta has appealed for foreign aid. The case of seeking foreign aid in a crisis like this is not often seen in the country. Because the junta has a record of stopping foreign aid programs before. But so far only neighboring country India has responded to this request. The country has sent 10 tons of goods including dry food, clothing, medicine.
Typhoon Yagi has so far killed 10 people in Thailand and one in Laos.
According to the relevant authorities, the death toll from the typhoon in Vietnam has reached 292. 38 people are missing. More than 230,000 houses have been damaged. Crops of 280 thousand hectares of land have been destroyed.
Yagi is Asia's strongest typhoon this year. It is expected to leave Myanmar in the next few days. However, another tropical depression is forecast to form in the western Pacific next week.
