Cyclone Nargis Hits Burma

Tropical storm cyclone Nargis has hit central Myanmar coastal states which include Irrawaddy Delta region and Yangon division on the night of Friday 2nd until Saturday 3rd noon. Tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed especially in Irrawaddy Delta region which Hai Gyi Island was the worst affected.

Based on the latest government figures, at least 15,000 people were killed and the toll is likely to rise. Foreign Minister Nyan Win said on state television there were 10,000 deaths only in one town, Bogalay. A total of 22,464 people have been killed in two divisions of Yangon and Irrawaddy as state radio reported Tuesday evening. Among the victims, 21793 are from Irrawaddy division while 67 in Yangon division. A total of 41,054 are still missing which are 40,695 in Irrawaddy division and 359 in Yangon division. And 670 people from Yangon division were injured. A total of 40 townships in Yangon division and seven townships in Irrawaddy division still remain as natural-disaster-hit areas while Bago, Mon and Kayin as well as five townships of Yangon division and 19 townships of Irrawaddy division were withdrawn from being the natural-disaster-hit areas.This is the worst cyclone ever hit Asia since 1991,when 143,000 people were killed in Bangladesh.

Yangon and other big cities were ripped severely and caused the communication cut-off as the power lines were fallen down and there's no phone lines. Satellite dishes and roofs were thrown away. Big trees were broken and trashed down on the streets and clogging streets with debris. Water pipes were cut off and as there's no electricity and there's water shortage and no purity of water. Flight's schedules had to be canceled.People couldn't go to work. Food was rare and people are suffering. International aids are on a struggle to get permit to get into the country.

Despite the devastation caused by the cyclone, constitutional referendum scheduled of May 10 will proceed as planned according to the Burmese junta media.It would still take several more days for the restoration of the phone lines, electricity and water supply.