BANGKOK – Floods and landslides in Myanmar, triggered by Typhoon Yagi and seasonal monsoon rains, have claimed at least 226 lives, with 77 people reported missing, according to state-run media on Tuesday. This increase in casualties has pushed the overall death toll in Southeast Asia from the storm beyond 500. The slow reporting of casualties is partly due to communication challenges in the affected regions, compounded by Myanmar’s ongoing civil conflict. Since the military coup in 2021, the country has been embroiled in a civil war that has severely hampered effective governance and relief efforts.
Typhoon Yagi previously impacted Vietnam, northern Thailand, and Laos, resulting in nearly 300 deaths in Vietnam, 42 in Thailand, and four in Laos, as reported by the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance. The Philippines also reported 21 deaths and 26 missing persons. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that around 631,000 people in Myanmar have been affected by the flooding. With 3.4 million displaced people already in Myanmar before the typhoon, the situation has been exacerbated by the severe weather conditions, particularly in central and eastern regions of the country, including Mandalay, Magway, Bago, the Ayeyarwaddy Delta, and parts of the capital, Naypyitaw.
The floods have severely impacted infrastructure, with more than 160,000 houses damaged and 438 temporary relief camps established for over 160,000 flood victims. The military government reported that nearly 240,000 people have been displaced. Additionally, 117 government offices, 1,040 schools, 386 religious buildings, as well as roads, bridges, and utility towers have been damaged. The floods have also resulted in the death of nearly 130,000 animals and damage to more than 259,000 hectares (640,000 acres) of agricultural land. Relief efforts are hindered by blocked roads, damaged bridges, and ongoing armed conflicts. The U.N.’s humanitarian affairs agency has highlighted urgent needs for food, water, medicine, and shelter. Vice Senior Gen. Soe Win mentioned that Myanmar has received international relief aid, including support from the Association of Southeast Asia, and that recovery and rehabilitation efforts have begun as water levels start to recede.
