Many Missing after Strong Storm Hits Western Myanmar, Bangladesh
2023-05-17
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1Damage to roads and bridges is delaying rescue efforts in Myanmar's western Rakhine State after a powerful ocean storm struck Sunday.
2Cyclone Mocha brought winds measured at nearly 200 kilometers an hour.
3 storm tore the tops from homes and created a storm surge that flooded the state capital of Sittwe.
4Mocha was the most powerful storm to hit the area since Cyclone Nargis in 2008.
5Many people are feared dead, but Reuters news service has been unable to confirm a number.
6Nongovernmental groups say storm damage to communications and transportation lines as well as continuing military restrictions have delayed information and aid.
7Early reports from Myanmar's state media said a small number of people had died.
8The website Myanmar Now claimed hundreds, while aid groups said there were a "significant number of deaths."
9Manny Maung of Human Rights Watch said, "It's difficult to obtain accurate or up to date information."
10Local leaders told the French news agency AFP that 41 people had died in the village of Bu Ma and hundreds were missing.
11The cyclone also struck Bangladesh.
12There, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said more than 700,000 people had been moved to shelters.
13But no deaths were reported. Officials have credited early warning systems and better preparation by local officials for saving thousands of lives.
14However, officials warn many people are still missing.
15News reports say large numbers of people were also evacuated in Myanmar.
16Myanmar's state media said Tuesday that military government chief Min Aung Hlaing visited Sittwe to observe the damage and to donate money.
17Rakhine State is home to a large population of Rohingya Muslims, a minority group that has suffered from what international groups call ethnic attacks by Myanmar's military.
18Myanmar refuses to recognize the group as citizens of the country saying they are Bangladeshis.
19More than one million Rohingya refugees are believed to live in camps in neighboring Bangladesh.
20They fled Myanmar in large numbers after the military took action against them in 2017.
21I'm Mario Ritter Jr.
1Damage to roads and bridges is delaying rescue efforts in Myanmar's western Rakhine State after a powerful ocean storm struck Sunday. 2Cyclone Mocha brought winds measured at nearly 200 kilometers an hour. The storm tore the tops from homes and created a storm surge that flooded the state capital of Sittwe. Mocha was the most powerful storm to hit the area since Cyclone Nargis in 2008. 3Many people are feared dead, but Reuters news service has been unable to confirm a number. Nongovernmental groups say storm damage to communications and transportation lines as well as continuing military restrictions have delayed information and aid. 4Early reports from Myanmar's state media said a small number of people had died. The website Myanmar Now claimed hundreds, while aid groups said there were a "significant number of deaths." 5Manny Maung of Human Rights Watch said, "It's difficult to obtain accurate or up to date information." 6Local leaders told the French news agency AFP that 41 people had died in the village of Bu Ma and hundreds were missing. 7The cyclone also struck Bangladesh. There, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said more than 700,000 people had been moved to shelters. But no deaths were reported. Officials have credited early warning systems and better preparation by local officials for saving thousands of lives. However, officials warn many people are still missing. 8News reports say large numbers of people were also evacuated in Myanmar. Myanmar's state media said Tuesday that military government chief Min Aung Hlaing visited Sittwe to observe the damage and to donate money. 9Rakhine State is home to a large population of Rohingya Muslims, a minority group that has suffered from what international groups call ethnic attacks by Myanmar's military. Myanmar refuses to recognize the group as citizens of the country saying they are Bangladeshis. 10More than one million Rohingya refugees are believed to live in camps in neighboring Bangladesh. They fled Myanmar in large numbers after the military took action against them in 2017. 11I'm Mario Ritter Jr. 12Mario Ritter, Jr. adapted this report for VOA Learning English from Reuters, AFP and Associated Press sources. 13___________________________________________________________________ 14Words in This Story 15surge -n. a powerful rush of water into an area 16significant -adj. large or important 17obtain -v. to get 18accurate -adj. correct 19evacuate -v. to be moved from a place because of a threat or danger 20___________________________________________________________________ 21We want to hear from you. 22Here is how our comment system works: 23Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.