The death toll in Myanmar following the impact of Typhoon Yagi has risen to over 220, with nearly 80 people still missing, according to the country’s military government.
The storm, which swept through northern Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar in early September, has claimed more than 500 lives across the region, based on official reports.
In Myanmar, the typhoon triggered catastrophic floods and mudslides, destroying entire villages and leaving at least 226 dead.
The United Nations has warned that over half a million people in the war-torn nation are in urgent need of food, drinking water, shelter, and clothing, with hundreds of thousands of acres of crops wiped out.
The UN reported that the storm’s devastation spanned nine states and regions, including the capital Naypyidaw, as well as Mandalay in the north, Magway in the west, and Bago in the south—regions along the Irrawaddy River, Myanmar’s largest waterway.
Shan State in the northeast, along with Mon, Kayah, and Kayin states in the south, were also severely impacted.
Since early 2021, Myanmar has been engulfed in civil war following the military’s takeover, which ousted the democratically-elected government. Thousands have died, and millions have been displaced as armed resistance groups fight the ruling military junta.
The military’s loss of control over large parts of the country has led to fragmented governance, complicating relief efforts. Poor communication in remote areas has further delayed the reporting of casualties.
The UN described the floods as among the worst in Myanmar’s recent history, with its disaster response agency estimating that approximately 630,000 people have been affected.
Damaged roads, bridges, and severed communication lines have severely hampered relief operations.