Myanmar / TC NARGIS (TC 01B) Update: 84,500 dead

[JonathanBelles]

Did anyone notice that since 2006 Naypyidaw is the capital of Myanmar, not Yangon?

Yangon is now just the largest city of the country.

Yangon is the capital, Nay Pyi Taw is the administrative capital.

[HURAKAN]

Did anyone notice that since 2006 Naypyidaw is the capital of Myanmar, not Yangon?

Yangon is now just the largest city of the country.

Yangon is the capital, Nay Pyi Taw is the administrative capital.

I get it. Like Bolivia, that has two capitals, Sucre and La Paz.

[Chacor]

The military junta is based in Naypyidaw, having moved from Rangoon a few years ago. Rangoon is still widely accepted as the capital of Burma although it no longer is the administrative capital. All foreign diplomatic missions are in Rangoon, not Naypyidaw.

[senorpepr]

WTIO31 PGTW 031500
MSGID/GENADMIN/NAVPACMETOCCEN PEARL HARBOR HI/JTWC//
SUBJ: TROPICAL CYCLONE 01B (NARGIS) WARNING NR 025
1. TROPICAL CYCLONE 01B (NARGIS) WARNING NR 025
01 ACTIVE TROPICAL CYCLONE IN NORTHIO
MAX SUSTAINED WINDS BASED ON ONE-MINUTE AVERAGE
---
WARNING POSITION:
031200Z --- NEAR 18.3N 97.5E
MOVEMENT PAST SIX HOURS - 025 DEGREES AT 11 KTS
POSITION ACCURATE TO WITHIN 060 NM
POSITION BASED ON CENTER LOCATED BY SATELLITE
PRESENT WIND DISTRIBUTION:
MAX SUSTAINED WINDS - 040 KT, GUSTS 050 KT
WIND RADII VALID OVER OPEN WATER ONLY
DISSIPATING AS A SIGNIFICANT TROPICAL CYCLONE OVER LAND
REPEAT POSIT: 18.3N 97.5E
---
FORECASTS:
12 HRS, VALID AT:
040000Z --- 20.4N 98.2E
MAX SUSTAINED WINDS - 030 KT, GUSTS 040 KT
WIND RADII VALID OVER OPEN WATER ONLY
DISSIPATED AS A SIGNIFICANT TROPICAL CYCLONE OVER LAND
---
REMARKS:
031500Z POSITION NEAR 18.8N 97.7E.
TROPICAL CYCLONE (TC) 01B (NARGIS), LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 115 NM
NORTHEAST OF YANGON, MYANMAR, HAS TRACKED NORTH-NORTHEASTWARD AT
11 KNOTS OVER THE PAST 06 HOURS. RECENT ANIMATED MULTISPECTRAL
AND MICROWAVE SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATES THAT TC 01B HAS TAKEN
A POLEWARD TURN OVER THE PAST FEW HOURS IN THE LOW TO MID-LEVEL
FLOW BETWEEN A RIDGE TO THE EAST AND A MID-LATITUDE TROUGH TO
THE NORTHWEST. THE STORM IS WEAKENING RAPIDLY AS IT CONTINUES
INTO RUGGED TERRAIN ALONG THE MYANMAR-THAILAND BORDER. THE
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WIND SPEED IS EXPECTED TO DROP BELOW THE
35 KNOT WARNING THRESHOLD BY TAU 12. THEREFORE, THIS IS THE
FINAL WARNING ON THIS SYSTEM BY THE JOINT TYPHOON WARNING
CENTER (NAVPACMETOCCEN). THE SYSTEM WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORED
FOR SIGNS OF REGENERATION.//
BT
#0001
NNNN

[HURAKAN]

Feature: Deadly cyclone changes face of Myanmar's biggest city

YANGON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Some people in Myanmar's biggest city of Yangon were busy with cutting and clearing fallen trees Saturday afternoon in the wake of a midnight-to-noon violent and deadly cyclone storm Nargis, which Yangon residents have never experienced in the past six decades.

Taking the interval that the cyclone stopped on Saturday afternoon, housewives were also seen rushing for food after they were trapped for over 10 hours at home without food from Friday midnight when the Nargis, which occurred on the Bay of Bengal, stormed the under-developed old capital.

The terrible cyclone, at a wind speed of about 192 kilometers per hour, has almost totally devastated the former capital.

Major infrastructures related to municipality, telecommunications, transport, electric power and water supply as well as private apartment buildings were hard hit by the severe cyclone.

Observers here estimate that it needs years of endeavors to rebuild the city.

On Friday midnight, the Nargis started to emerge amid warning. As the storm wind became stronger, people woke up to witness the onslaught of the cyclone all night. With wind blowing sound turning louder, many zinc roofs atop various buildings were torn off one after another, falling on streets amid the heavy rain.

Windows were crushed, satellite dishes were stricken to deformation, dropping from atop.

Almost all giant commercial advertisement signboards were even blown to pieces scattering on the streets.

Unable to withstand the strong wind, many big and old-aged trees on the streets, gardens and private residences fell one after another, turning Yangon into a forest city overnight.

The storm also cut off electricity in the city.

Buses stopped running and all flight and train schedules were suspended.

The Nargis has lashed coastal regions of the country's southwestern Ayeyawaddy division since Friday morning, covering Haing Gyi Island, Pathein, Myaungmya, Laputta, Mawlamyinegyun, Kyaiklat, Phyarpon and Bogalay.

The State Radio confirmed in a night broadcast that some of these areas were almost totally destroyed.

Up to five vessels capsized in the Yangon Port, and an investigation is underway for casualties and loss.

Meanwhile, Myanmar declared three divisions Yangon, Bago and Ayeyawaddy and two states Kayin and Mon as natural-disaster-hit regions.

A national central committee for prevention of natural disaster was also formed with Prime Minister General Thein Sein as Chairman to promptly and effectively carry out relief and resettlement tasks.

[Chacor]

Burma hasn't been hit by a major cyclone in a long time, so for a cat 4-equivalent to make landfall right here is going to be truly devastating.

[HurricaneRobert]

They were hit by Mala two years ago.

[senorpepr]

They were hit by Mala two years ago.

Mala just before making landfall in Myanmar

[Chacor]

Yes, but Mala didn't pass over Rangoon.

Of course, as we saw with both Mala and Akash, the junta has a habit of covering up deaths, so we'll never ever know the full extent of the damage or death toll from Nargis.

[Derek Ortt]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008 ... ion=justin

3 dead so far and extensive damage to the capital

what were the real death figures from Mala?

[HURAKAN]

When was the last time that a tropical cyclone of this intensity directly affected Yangon?

[HurricaneBill]

Myanmar Cyclones

1902: Cyclone in May
Deaths: 600

1923: Cyclone in May
Deaths: 6

1926: Cyclone in May
Deaths: 2700

1936: Cyclone in April
Deaths: 1000

1965: Cyclone in October
Deaths: 100
Damage: $1 million

1967: Cyclone in May
Deaths: 100
Damage: $5 million

1967: Cyclone in October (likely at least Category 1 strength)
Deaths: 178
Damage: $3.2 million

1968: Cyclone in May (probably around Category 4 strength)
Deaths: 1070
Damage: $2.5 million

1975: Cyclone in May (Category 1)
Deaths: 303
Damage: $78 million

1982: Cyclone in May (Category 4)
Deaths: 31
Damage: $3.8 million

1994: Cyclone 2B (Category 4)
Deaths: 200
Damage: $10 million

2004: Cyclone 2B (Category 1)
Deaths: 236

2006: Cyclone Mala (Category 4)
Deaths: 34

[Typhoon Hunter]

Thanks for posting that info HurricaneBill. No doubt as Chacor said the junta will try and cover up bad news. P.K was telling me that the Burma met department website wasn't even online prior to Nargis' lanfdall!

BBC are reporting 3 deaths so far but I guess this will rise as more info comes to light.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7382298.stm

[Ad Novoxium]

Thanks for posting that info HurricaneBill. No doubt as Chacor said the junta will try and cover up bad news. P.K was telling me that the Burma met department website wasn't even online prior to Nargis' lanfdall!

BBC are reporting 3 deaths so far but I guess this will rise as more info comes to light.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7382298.stm

Or as much info as Burma/Myanmar/Name of the day allows out. But, considering more news coverage in the past few months or year of Burma and its workings (what with the monk protests), the information cover probably won't be as severe as other cases, but still a little convoluted. But that's just what I'm saying, reality may be a bit different.

[P.K.]

Burma cyclone death toll 'at 243'

A tropical cyclone has killed at least 243 people in Burma and damaged thousands of buildings, according to state television.

Parts of the Irrawaddy region were hit particularly badly, with three out of four buildings blown down in one district alone.

Burma has declared Irrawaddy and four other regions, including the main city Rangoon, to be disaster areas.

Rangoon has been without power and water, its streets full of debris.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7382298.stm

[senorpepr]

Hundreds feared dead in Myanmar cyclone

BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- Hundreds of people are feared dead after a tropical cyclone with winds up to 150 miles (241 km) per hour slammed into Myanmar over the weekend.

The powerful storm toppled this tree in Yangon, Myanmar, on Saturday.

"We believe hundreds of people are dead," said Khin Maung Win with the Democratic Voice of Burma -- a broadcast media group run by opposition expatriates.

"The entire lower Burma is affected. In some areas, entire villages disappeared."

The ruling military junta put the death toll at about 200, according to media reports.

The activist group opposed the military rule in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.

The ruling junta declared a state of emergency in five regions: the city of Yangon, Irrawaddy, Pegu and the states of Karen and Mon. All flights to Yangon, the former capital, were canceled.

Cyclone Nargis tore off roofs, uprooted trees and downed power lines.

The storm ripped through the sprawling river delta city of Yangon for more than 10 hours -- from Friday night until Saturday noon, said Burma Democratic Concern (BDC). See photos of the destruction »

By Sunday, many parts of the city were without electricity. Phone connections were also down in most areas, making it difficult to assess the extent of the damage.

"Most Burmese with whom we've been in touch report they lost their roofs, although so far everyone we have been able to contact reports that they and their families are safe," said a Yangon-based diplomat who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Pictures from inside the country showed a cyclone-ravaged region with tin huts crushed under the weight of trees. Bicyclists navigated around large branches that littered the deserted roads.

A man with his pant legs rolled up waded through knee-deep water and strained to clear massive limbs that were blocking the entrance to a house.

"The cleanup is beginning, but this will take a long time," the diplomat said. "The damage around town is intense."

"Fuel is not easily available. International emergency assistance would be needed within seven days. There is no food for eating," said Win of the Democratic Voice of Burma.

The junta has scheduled a May 10 referendum on a new constitution for the country, which came under sharp criticism from many nations for using force to suppress pro-democracy protests last year.

[Hello32020]

Cyclone kills at least 351 in Myanmar, state-run TV reports

By AYE AYE WIN – 1 hour ago

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar's state-run television reports that a powerful cyclone has killed at least 351 people.

State-run television says the toll from Tropical Cyclone Nargis includes 109 who lived on Haing Gyi island located off the country's southwest coast.

A U.N. official said earlier that thousands of homes have been destroyed, mostly in the low-lying Irrawaddy delta.

The military-run Myaddy television station says five regions of the country have been declared disaster zones...
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5greyFH3qkj9mc9oagSoulgjN4KHgD90ES3G80

[Chacor]

I suspect we might end up with a toll in four digits.

[senorpepr]

Al Jazerra has posted a video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4NjDAKLxo4

I won't bother posting the news story here as it appears a little outdated (judging from the death toll) and it doesn't really add anything that the other news articles have said.

Anyway, here is the link to their story:

Cyclone wreaks havoc in Myanmar

[Derek Ortt]

so far, it seems like the majority of the deaths were due to the wind. This would have been cataclysmic (it was catastrophioc as it was) had this struck at a right angle instead of moving parallel to the delta