Myanmar Flooding Death Toll Jumps to 226

AFP/APP

Yangon: The death toll from massive flooding in Myanmar following Typhoon Yagi has surged to 226, as the UN warns that up to 630,000 people may require urgent assistance.

Yagi swept across northern Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar more than a week ago, unleashing powerful winds and torrential rains that triggered deadly floods and landslides, killing more than 500 people across the region, according to official figures.

Myanmar’s state television, in the junta-ruled country, confirmed 226 fatalities late on Monday, with 77 people still missing, doubling the previous toll of 113. The broadcaster also reported that nearly 260,000 hectares (640,000 acres) of rice paddies and other crops had been destroyed by the floods.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said an estimated 631,000 people across Myanmar had been affected by the flooding.

The agency stressed the urgent need for food, drinking water, shelter, and clothing, warning that damaged communication lines, blocked roads, and destroyed bridges were significantly hampering relief efforts.

Poor communication, especially with remote areas, has delayed the flow of information about casualties.

On Monday, the UN’s World Food Programme described the floods as the worst in Myanmar’s recent history, although no precise details were provided. Severe floods also struck the country in 2011 and 2015, each resulting in more than 100 deaths. In 2008, Cyclone Nargis left over 138,000 people dead or missing.

Appeal for Foreign Aid

The junta made a rare appeal for foreign aid over the weekend. So far, India is the only country to have responded, sending 10 tonnes of materials, including dry rations, clothing, and medicine. UNOCHA emphasized the urgent need for additional resources.

In recent years, Myanmar’s military has obstructed or limited humanitarian assistance from abroad. Following Cyclone Mocha last year, the junta suspended travel authorizations for aid groups attempting to reach around a million people affected by the disaster.

Even before the recent floods, Myanmar’s citizens were grappling with the impact of three years of war between the junta and armed groups opposing its rule. Millions of people have been displaced by the conflict.

Typhoon Yagi has also caused 10 deaths in Thailand and one in Laos. In Vietnam, the death toll stands at 292, with 38 people still missing. Over 230,000 homes have been damaged, and 280,000 hectares of crops destroyed, according to authorities.

Yagi, the strongest typhoon to hit northern Vietnam in decades, tore across the densely populated Red River Delta, a vital agricultural region and home to major manufacturing hubs.

The storm damaged factories, infrastructure, and farmlands, resulting in an estimated 40 trillion dong ($1.6 billion) in economic losses, according to an initial government assessment reported by state media.