The death toll in Myanmar from Typhoon Yagi has risen to over 220, with nearly 80 people still missing, according to the military government. The storm, which hit northern Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar in early September, has claimed more than 500 lives across the region.
The typhoon caused severe flooding and mudslides in Myanmar, destroying entire villages. The UN has warned that over half a million people in the conflict-ridden country are urgently in need of food, drinking water, shelter, and clothing.
The storm’s devastation has impacted nine states and regions, including the capital Naypyidaw, Mandalay, Magway, Bago, Shan State, Mon, Kayah, and Kayin. The floods, among the worst Myanmar has seen in recent history, have affected approximately 630,000 people, with blocked roads, damaged bridges, and severed communication lines severely hindering relief efforts.
Aid agencies face significant challenges accessing many areas, especially Shan State, which is largely controlled by a rebel army. Reports from volunteer rescuers in the south of Shan State indicate that entire homes have been buried under mudslides, with over 100 bodies recovered and more than 200 still missing.
In the southeast, the situation is dire with urgent food shortages reported. A senior official from rebel-controlled Kayin State highlighted the difficulty of reaching affected areas due to floods and ongoing conflict.
The ruling military junta has made a rare appeal for international aid. India has responded with supplies of food, clothing, and medicine. The typhoon has also resulted in 10 deaths in Thailand, one in Laos, and 292 in Vietnam, with additional damage to homes and crops reported across the region.
