Asia-Pacific

170,000 people affected by cyclone Giri in Myanmar

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-01 13:35

YANGON - A total of 170,000 people were estimated to have been affected by the recent cyclone Giri that struck Myanmar's western coastal Rakhine state last month, the local Flower News quoted the United Nations resident office here as reporting Monday.

Workers carry construction material onto boats at Yangon's Bothahtaung pier to be shipped to the area hit by Cyclone Giri Oct 25, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

The Oct 22 cyclone Giri also caused widespread damage to 71 villages in some townships in the state, of which Myebon, Kyaukphyu, ?Min Bye and Kyauktaw ?suffered the most, the UN office said.

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According to Myanmar official sources, a total of 27 people were killed and 15 others missing in the tragedy.

Among the dead, 22 were from Myebon township which was the hardest hit by the cyclone.

Altogether 6,231 houses, eight monasteries, 19 schools and 77 government departmental offices as well as 80 vessels and two bridges were destroyed mainly in three townships of Myebon, Kyaukphyu and Min Bye.

Of the ravaged houses, 2,028 were from Myebon and 1,035 from Kyaukphyu.

Severe cyclone Giri over the Bay of Bengal landed on Oct 22 afternoon at Myanmar's western Rakhine coast, sweeping violently Kyaukphyu and Gyuntharya at a speed of 120 km to 128 km per hour, triggering a tidal wave of as high as 3.6 meters.

Nearby areas of Sittway, Myebon, Pauktaw, Ann, Yanbyae, Manaung, Ponnagyun and Min Bya townships were affected.

The storm, which crossed the central part of Myanmar earlier on Oct 23, continued moving northeastwards at noon but abated into a small inland storm until its fade-out in Sagaing region's Butalin in the evening.