Many Dead and Intense Damage as Burma declares cyclone disaster
Pastor Dale Morgan
Many Dead and Intense Damage as Burma declares cyclone disaster*
Burma has declared five disaster areas, including the main city Rangoon,
after a large tropical cyclone hit the country, state media report.
The military-run Myaddy television station said Irrawaddy, Bago, Karen
and Mon states were also hit hard by winds of about 190km/h (120mph).
The storm is reported to have killed at least four people in Rangoon.
The city is without power and water, and the streets are full of debris
from fallen trees and damaged buildings.
Internet and phone connections have been down since the storm neared the
former Burmese capital, making it difficult to confirm the extent of the
damage.
In the Irrawaddy river delta, more than half of the buildings had been
damaged or had collapsed, official newspapers reported.
Official media also reported that four vessels had sunk in the Rangoon
harbour.
A UN regional official told Reuters news agency it would take several
days to assess the scale of the damage.