Naypyitaw: Myanmar’s death toll from recent flooding has reached 74, according to a state media report released on Sunday. The significant rise in casualties follows widespread flooding triggered by heavy rains across the conflict-ridden nation. As of Friday evening, search and rescue operations were underway, with at least 89 people reported missing.
The severe weather has been exacerbated by Typhoon Yagi, the strongest storm to impact Asia this year. This storm has also led to significant loss of life and flooding in Vietnam and Thailand, where swollen rivers have overwhelmed cities.
Flooding in Myanmar commenced last Monday, with at least 19 reported fatalities by Friday morning. The country has been grappling with instability since a military coup in February 2021, leading to widespread violence and a deteriorating humanitarian situation.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the storm’s impact has been particularly severe in the capital Naypyidaw and in the Mandalay, Magway, and Bago regions, as well as in eastern and southern Shan state, Mon, Kayah, and Kayin states. “Central Myanmar is currently the hardest hit, with numerous rivers and creeks flowing down from Shan hills,” OCHA reported to Reuters via email.
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Further reports indicate additional deaths and landslides, though collecting accurate information has been challenging due to damaged infrastructure and disrupted communication lines. State media also reported extensive damage, including the destruction of five dams, four pagodas, and more than 65,000 homes.
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Approximately one-third of Myanmar’s 55 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. However, many aid organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, face severe limitations in their operations due to access restrictions and security concerns.
