Update: Myanmar (Burma) Cyclone -- US State Dept says death toll may exceed 100,000

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

Update: Death toll may exceed 100,000... tragic.

YANGON, Myanmar - Bodies floated in flood waters and survivors tried to reach dry ground on boats using blankets as sails, while the top U.S. diplomat in Myanmar said Wednesday that up to 100,000 people may have died in the devastating cyclone.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24497236/

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Original Post

I did not see this on the site but I wanted to post in case (if it is a dupe then ignore this).

YANGON - AT least 15,000 people were killed in the Myanmar cyclone and the toll was likely to rise as officials made contact with the worst-hit areas, the military government's foreign minister said.

Foreign Minister Nyan Win said on state television on Tuesday that 10,000 people had died in just one town, Bogalay, as he gave the first detailed account of what is emerging as the worst cyclone to hit Asia since 1991, when 143,000 people were killed in Bangladesh.

read more: http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/...ory_234525.html

[jundp 191]

Such devastation is so difficult to read about.

I hope that VJ family members are safe.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

very sad. I didn't know that cyclones were that devastating. poor people

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

very sad. I didn't know that cyclones were that devastating. poor people

they are. especially when they hit a low lying poor nation with weak buildings.

[Heracles 417]

That countries government has protectionist measures and allows little interference from international governments. This is why Laura Bush had a press conference pleading they accept aid from other nations.

[almaty 19]

it is sad....terrible.....hard to imagine such destruction

[simple_male 1]

It is very devastating. According to latest news, the death toll is not 22,000 and it is likely to increase.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Very tragic, indeed.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

This happens every so often in southeastern and southern asia and every time, the local governments are surprised and not ready...

[Scott & Lai 12]

That countries government has protectionist measures and allows little interference from international governments. This is why Laura Bush had a press conference pleading they accept aid from other nations.

I heard about that....it's disgusting that we should have to plead with them to accept help

[HAL 9000 96]

I heard they are being extremely slow to accept aid that is already in the country... and visas for international aid workers are delayed. Lets hope the death toll doesn't continue to rise-

As of this morning I hear its 22,000 and about 40,000 missing.

This would be much worse for Myanmar than the effects of the Tsunami.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

A spokesman for the Indian Meteorological Department revealed yesterday that it had given Burma two days’ warning of Cyclone Nargis. “Forty-eight hours before Nargis struck, we indicated its point of crossing \, its severity and all related issues to Burmese agencies,” he said. Weather systems in the Bay of Bengal are tracked by India by satellite.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/worl...icle3883123.ece

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

Bump. US State Dept says death toll may exceed 100,000.... tragic.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24497236/

[HAL 9000 96]

My goodness...

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Dear God. This is tragic.