Myanmar designates three days of mourning for cyclone victims

Source: Xinhua | 05-20-2008 09:13

YANGON, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar designated on Monday three days of mourning for cyclone disaster starting from Tuesday to Thursday, according to an announcement of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) aired by the state radio in the evening.

The announcement, signed by First Secretary of the SPDC Lieutenant-General Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, sets the mourning activities to start on Tuesday at 9 a.m. (local time) with the state flag to fly half-mast.

A boy plays outside his home which was destroyed by  Cyclone Nargis, outside Yangon May 19, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

A deadly tropical cyclone Nargis, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit five divisions and states -- Ayeyawaddy, Yangon, Bago, Mon and Kayin on May 2 and 3, of which Ayeyawaddy and Yangoninflicted the heaviest casualties and massive infrastructural damage including religious buildings, schools, hospitals, vessels, animals, crops cultivation, forest and ration.

According to an updated official death toll, as many as 77,738 people have been killed with 55,917 still missing totaling 133,655in the disaster. The number of the injured went to 19,359. 　

A girl reads a book as she hangs wet clothes on logs  to dry at a village hit by Cyclone Nargis, outside of Yangon May 19, 2008. Buddhists in Cyclone Nargis-hit Myanmar celebrated the Kason festival, or Vesak Day,  on Sunday marking the enlightenment of Buddha. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Editor:Liu Fang