At least four dead in Myanmar cyclone, official says

Oct 25, 2010, 11:07 GMT

Yangon - Cyclone Giri killed at least four people when it slammed into Myanmar's western coast, a government official who requested anonymity said.

Myanmar's military-controlled press has been mum on the damage wrought by the cyclone, apparently wary of printing any bad news that reflects poorly on the ruling military regime in the run-up to the first election in 20 years on November 7.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies reported over the weekend that it had deployed emergency teams with the local Red Cross to respond to the cyclone, which hit the city of Kyaukpyu in Rakhine state Friday.

'There is still little clear information on the numbers of casualties and damage, but local branches of the Myanmar Red Cross Society say the most urgent needs are for food, water and shelter,' the federation said.

It said the cyclone, packing winds of 160 kilometres per hour, reportedly caused tidal waves of 7 to 8 metres, impacting islands and damaging about 75 per cent of homes in Kyaukpyu, a city of 185,000 people.

In 2008, Cyclone Nargis smashed into Myanmar's Irrawaddy Delta, unleashing a killer tsunami that devastated crops, boats and housing while claiming at least 130,000 lives.

State media downplayed the impact of that storm, which coincided with preparations for a planned referendum by the ruling junta to win approval for its new constitution.

Myanmar has been under military rule since 1962.

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