Sun Sep 15 02:59:19 UTC 2024: ## Typhoon Yagi Devastates Myanmar, Leaving 113 Dead and Thousands Displaced
**Yangon, Myanmar** – The death toll from Typhoon Yagi, which struck Myanmar last weekend, has reached 113, according to state media. At least 320,000 people have been displaced and 64 remain missing. The disaster has caused widespread destruction, including the collapse of more than 65,000 homes and five dams.
Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, but access to many areas remains hampered by damaged roads and bridges. The Sittaung and Bago rivers, which flow through central and southern Myanmar, are still above dangerous levels, though water levels are expected to recede in the coming days.
The junta, which seized power in a 2021 coup, has opened 82 relief camps to house displaced people. However, the military’s previous record of blocking humanitarian aid raises concerns about the effectiveness of these efforts.
In a rare move, the junta has requested foreign assistance to deal with the floods. The UN’s Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs and the International Committee of the Red Cross have yet to comment on the request.
The disaster comes as Myanmar already faces a humanitarian crisis due to the ongoing conflict following the coup. Over 2.7 million people have been displaced by the fighting.
Typhoon Yagi is the latest in a series of extreme weather events impacting Southeast Asia, a trend scientists attribute to climate change. The floods have exacerbated the suffering of communities already grappling with conflict and instability.
First Piper 