Myanmar toll 'at least 15,000'

Al Jazeera, May 6, 2008

Nargis knocked out power and caused widespread flooding and damage [AFP]
The Myanmar government has said that the toll from Saturday's cyclone has risen to 15,000 and is likely to rise.

Nyan Win, the foreign minister, said on state television 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.

"In Irrawaddy Division the death toll amounts to more than 10,000," he said in a state television broadcast.

"The missing is about 3,000. In Bogalay, the death toll is about 10,000.

"Information is still being collected, and there could be more casualties."

The minister also said the military government welcomed outside assistance, an unprecedented green light to governments and aid agencies who want to help with the recovery.

But Al Jazeera's Laura Kyle, reporting from Bangkok, said while aid agencies were ready to render assistance, they had not yet been able to get inside the country despite the government's apparent green light.

Nargis swept through Myanmar on Saturday, knocking out power and causing widespread flooding and damage.

Our correspondent reported aid agencies estimating the toll to be up to 20,000.

Hundreds of thousands have been left homeless.

James East, of the World Vision aid agency which has nearly 500 staff in the country, told Al Jazeera that the agency had been told by government officials that 90 to 95 per cent of the homes in eight townships had been severely damaged.

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