The death toll from catastrophic floods in Myanmar from Typhoon Yagi has doubled to 226, with the UN warning that up to 630,000 people may require assistance. Yagi slammed over northern Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar more than a week ago, causing floods and landslides that killed more than 500 people, according to official estimates.
Late Monday, state TV in junta-ruled Myanmar revealed 226 fatalities, with 77 people still missing, more than tripling the previous toll of 113. The station also said that floods had devastated roughly 260,000 hectares (640,000 acres) of rice farms and other crops.
The devastating impact of Typhoon Yagi has been particularly severe in Myanmar's central regions, where numerous rivers and creeks flowing down from the hilly Shan State have caused widespread flooding. The disaster has led to significant damage to road networks, transportation infrastructure, telecommunications, and electricity in affected areas. While some townships have started to see receding water levels, most areas remain submerged, hampering rescue and relief efforts.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), a disaster response agency, reported that floods had affected an estimated 631,000 people in Myanmar.
Food, drinking water, shelter, and clothing are all urgently required, according to UNOCHA, which warned that collapsed communication lines, blocked roads, and destroyed bridges were seriously impeding relief efforts. Poor communications, particularly in distant locations, have often caused delays in the dissemination of information concerning casualties. The UN World Food Programme claimed on Monday that the floods were the worst in Myanmar's recent history, but did not provide further numbers.
The flooding has had a devastating impact on Myanmar's agricultural sector, with tens of thousands of acres of farmland submerged. This destruction of crops and livestock is likely to have long-lasting effects on food security and livelihoods in the affected regions. The situation is particularly concerning given that Myanmar was already facing significant economic challenges and food insecurity prior to this disaster.
Severe flooding struck the country in 2011 and 2015, killing over 100 people each time, while Cyclone Nargis killed or left over 138,000 people missing in 2008. The junta made an unusual call for foreign aid over the weekend, and India was the only country to respond, providing 10 tons of items such as dry food, clothing, and medication.
UNOCHA stated that more resources are urgently required.
However, in recent years, Myanmar's military has obstructed or impeded humanitarian relief from overseas, especially during the severe Cyclone Mocha last year, when it suspended travel authorizations for aid groups attempting to reach approximately a million people.
The current disaster response in Myanmar is further complicated by the ongoing political crisis following the military coup in February 2021. The conflict between the military government and opposition forces has displaced thousands of people, many of whom are now doubly impacted by the flooding. This complex emergency situation poses significant challenges for both domestic and international humanitarian organizations attempting to provide aid.
Even before the recent floods, Myanmar was dealing with the aftermath of three years of violence between the government and armed groups opposed to its control, which had driven millions of people to flee their homes.
Yagi has claimed 10 lives in Thailand and one in Laos. According to authorities, the dead toll in Vietnam is 292, with 38 people missing, over 230,000 dwellings damaged, and 280,000 hectares of crops devastated.
Yagi, the worst typhoon to hit the country's north in decades, wreaked havoc on the densely populated Red River delta, a critical agricultural region that also houses major manufacturing hubs, destroying industries and infrastructure and flooding fields.
The widespread destruction caused by Typhoon Yagi across multiple countries in Southeast Asia has reignited discussions about climate change and disaster preparedness in the region. Experts warn that the increasing frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events highlight the urgent need for improved infrastructure, early warning systems, and climate adaptation strategies to mitigate the impact of future disasters. According to state media, the typhoon inflicted economic damages of almost 40 trillion dong (US$1.6 billion), based on an initial government assessment.
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