Nearly 22,500 killed in violent cyclone in Myanmar

Source: Xinhua | 05-07-2008 09:03

YANGON, May 6 (Xinhua) -- A total of 22,464 people have been killed in two divisions of Yangon and Ayeyawaddy in Cyclone Nargisthat swept Myanmar's five divisions and states last Friday and Saturday, state radio reported Tuesday evening, quoting an updated figure released at noon.

Flooded villages are seen in this aerial view near  an airport in Yangon, May 5, 2008, after Cyclone  Nargis slammed into Myanmar's main city on Saturday,  ripping off roofs, felling trees and raising fears  of major casualties.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Among the victims, 21,793 are in Ayeyawaddy division, while 671in Yangon division.

A total of 41,054 are still missing -- 40,695 in Ayeyawaddy division and 359 in Yangon division, the report said, adding that 670 were injured in the Yangon division alone.

The deadly cyclone, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit five divisions and states -- Yangon, Bago, Ayeyawaddy, Kayin and Mon, of which Ayeyawaddy and Yangon sustained the most casualties.

Myanmar declared the five divisions and states as natural-disaster-hit regions a day after the cyclone hit the country.

However, Bago, Mon and Kayin as well as some five townships of Yangon division and 19 townships of Ayeyawaddy division were withdrawn from being the natural-disaster-hit areas on Tuesday with a claim that these areas have basically returned to normal, according to an earlier official announcement on Tuesday afternoon.

A total of 40 townships in Yangon division and seven townships in Ayeyawaddy division still remain as natural-disaster-hit areas.

Editor:Zhao Yan