Myanmar hit by deadly floods after Typhoon Yagi
Severe flooding has devastated Myanmar following Typhoon Yagi, forcing over 230,000 people to evacuate their homes, according to officials. The country’s junta has sought international assistance to address the crisis, as reported by state-run media. Naypyidaw, the capital, is among the hardest hit areas.
The floods have claimed at least 33 lives, as stated by the military. The New Light of Myanmar reports that temporary relief camps have been established for those displaced. Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful storm in Asia this year, has already impacted Vietnam, China’s Hainan island, and the Philippines.
Junta chief Gen Min Aung Hlaing and other officials have visited severely affected areas to oversee rescue and relief operations, according to state media.
Radio Free Asia has reported a higher death toll, with at least 160 people having died from floods and landslides, according to the US-backed broadcaster. A rescue worker in Taungoo told BBC Burmese that over 300 people are stranded by flooding on the east bank of the Sittaung River, citing a shortage of boats for rescue efforts.
Scientists warn that climate change is increasing the intensity and frequency of typhoons and hurricanes, as warmer ocean waters fuel more powerful storms.
A warmer atmosphere also holds more moisture, which can lead to more intense rainfall.
Much of Myanmar’s population has been suffering dislocation because of a three-year civil war that has killed thousands and displaced more than 2.6 million people, according to the UN.
In an update on the ongoing humanitarian situation earlier this week, the International Red Cross (ICRC) said many families in Myanmar have limited access to clean water and sanitation, and are going without basic medicines and health care.
“They live with the fear of armed conflict and violence. The disruption of livelihoods is leaving countless people without the means to sustain themselves,” the ICRC’s president, Mirjana Spoljaric, said on Wednesday.
