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The death toll from floods in Myanmar rose to at least 226 as of Tuesday, as Typhoon Yagi caused massive damage across parts of Southeast Asia.
According to a late-night report on state-run MRTV, government spokesman Zaw Min Tun said at least 320,000 people had fled their homes and 77 were still missing.
“The government is carrying out a rescue and recovery mission,” he said.
Severe weather caused by Typhoon Yagi, the strongest to hit Asia this year, has killed hundreds in Vietnam and Thailand, and swollen rivers have flooded cities in both countries.
Meanwhile, another storm, Typhoon Bebinka, made landfall in Shanghai on Monday, prompting evacuations and flight cancellations. It was the strongest storm to hit the city since 1949.
Floods in Myanmar began on Monday and have killed at least 74 people by Friday, according to state media.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since a military coup in February 2021, with violence sweeping much of the country.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said rains from the storm mainly affected the capital Naypyidaw, Mandalay, Magway, Bago regions, eastern and southern Shan, Mon, Kayah and Kayin states.
“Central Myanmar is currently the worst affected, with numerous rivers and streams flowing down from the Shan Hills,” OCHA said.
Reports of more deaths and landslides have been received, but damaged infrastructure and downed phone and internet lines are making information gathering difficult.
State media also reported that the floods destroyed five dams, four pagodas and more than 65,000 homes.
About a third of Myanmar’s 55 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, but many aid agencies, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, are unable to operate in many areas due to access restrictions and security risks.
