The grim reality of Typhoon Yagi’s aftermath in Myanmar is unfolding, with the death toll now exceeding 74 and 89 individuals still unaccounted for. The military government has announced the heartbreaking figures, more than double the 33 deaths reported the previous day, as difficulties in collecting information fuel concerns that the true number of casualties may be significantly higher.
Typhoon Yagi’s destructive path has already claimed over 260 lives across Southeast Asia, impacting Vietnam, northern Thailand, and Laos. The storm’s devastating reach underscores the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather events.
In Myanmar, low-lying areas in the central regions of Mandalay and Bago, as well as eastern Shan state and the country’s capital, Naypyitaw, have been submerged since Wednesday. The severity of the flooding has prompted Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the ruling military council, to request aid from foreign countries.
The military government is mobilizing efforts to address the crisis. Min Aung Hlaing and other military officials inspected flooded areas and reviewed rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts in Naypyitaw. Officials are directed to seek assistance from the international community to provide relief to the victims.
“It is necessary to manage rescue, relief, and rehabilitation measures as quickly as possible,” he was quoted as saying.
The exact extent of the damage remains unclear, but there are growing fears that the death toll could rise dramatically. Local news outlets report that over 100 people are missing, adding to the somber reality of the situation.
The task of assessing casualties, damage, and providing relief is further complicated by the ongoing civil war in Myanmar, which began in 2021 following the military seizure of power from the elected government. Independent analysts believe that the military controls less than half of the country’s territory, posing challenges to humanitarian access.
Myanmar is no stranger to extreme weather events. In 2008, Cyclone Nargis tragically claimed the lives of over 138,000 people. The military government at the time faced criticism for delaying the acceptance of international assistance and for controlling the distribution of aid with little oversight.
Saturday evening’s state television news reported that the floods have caused extensive damage, including 24 bridges, 375 school buildings, one Buddhist monastery, five dams, four pagodas, 14 electrical transformers, 456 lampposts, and more than 65,000 houses. Naypyitaw, the country’s capital, is among the areas hardest hit by the floods.
Myanmar’s Eleven Media group reported on Friday that record rainfall had damaged several pagodas in Bagan, the ancient capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The rain, described as the heaviest in 60 years, collapsed walls at centuries-old temples, highlighting the scale of the devastation.
