BANGKOK. The death toll in Myanmar from devastating floods and landslides triggered by Typhoon Yagi has risen to at least 74, with 89 people still unaccounted for, according to state television reports on Saturday. The announcement marks a sharp increase from the 33 fatalities reported just a day earlier, fueling concerns that the number of casualties could rise even further as information from affected areas continues to emerge.
Typhoon Yagi, which also ravaged parts of Vietnam, northern Thailand, and Laos, has left a trail of destruction across Southeast Asia, claiming over 260 lives and causing widespread damage. In Myanmar, nearly 240,000 people have been displaced by the storm’s impact, adding to the 3.4 million already displaced by conflict and unrest, according to the United Nations refugee agency.
Myanmar’s ruling military government, led by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, has begun reaching out to foreign nations for relief aid. “It is necessary to manage rescue, relief, and rehabilitation measures as quickly as possible,” Gen. Min Aung Hlaing was quoted as saying by state-run media during an inspection of flood-hit areas in the capital, Naypyitaw, on Friday.
Floodwaters have submerged low-lying areas in central Myanmar, particularly in the regions of Mandalay and Bago, as well as Shan State in the east. Naypyitaw, one of the hardest-hit areas, has witnessed severe infrastructure damage. Local reports from Eleven Media indicated that historic pagodas in the UNESCO-listed ancient city of Bagan were damaged by record rainfall, the heaviest in 60 years, which caused walls of several temples to collapse.
Saturday’s state media broadcast revealed the extent of the destruction: 24 bridges, 375 school buildings, 65,000 homes, one Buddhist monastery, five dams, four pagodas, and other critical infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed.
The full scope of the disaster is still unclear, with the ongoing civil war complicating relief efforts. Myanmar has been in turmoil since 2021, when the military seized power from the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. Independent analysts estimate that the military controls less than half of Myanmar’s territory, further complicating aid distribution.
The memory of Cyclone Nargis in 2008, which killed more than 138,000 people, looms large over the current crisis. At the time, Myanmar’s military government delayed accepting international assistance, severely hampering relief efforts. While the current military leadership has shown a willingness to request aid, the challenge of delivering it to the most affected areas remains significant.
As relief and rescue operations continue, fears grow that the death toll could rise sharply. Local reports indicate that over 100 people remain missing, and with ongoing rains expected, the situation remains dire.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
