Burma Over 350 people dead - in Myanmar Regions - Goverment Declares 5 Disaster Zones

(May 4, 2008)--Myanmar's state-run media is reporting that more than 350 people have died after a powerful cyclone hit the Asian country's southwest coast.

The military-run television station says five regions have been declared disaster zones after the storm swamped low-lying areas in the Irrawaddy river delta.

International relief is likely be urgently needed following Saturday's storm. But some dissident groups and diplomats expressed concern that the aging, hard-line generals who run Myanmar would be reluctant to ask for outside help because they are known to be secretive and xenophobic.

"We have to be welcomed by the host government," said one Western diplomat, who refused to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the issue. "The international community is willing to provide humanitarian assistance. There has been tremendous destruction. At the end of the day, the government needs to let in the assistance."

The U.N. tried to send teams to assess the damage on Sunday, but their efforts were hampered by roads clogged with debris and phone lines that were down. They would try again Monday, Kaye said.

"Where are all those uniformed people who are always ready to beat civilians?" said a trishaw driver who refused to be identified for fear of retribution. "They should come out in full force and help clean up the areas and restore electricity."

Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been under military rule since 1962. Its government has been widely criticized for human rights abuses and suppression of pro-democracy parties such as the one led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for almost 12 of the past 18 years.

YANGON, Myanmar —  The government has declared five regions, including Yangon, disaster zones after Tropical Cyclone Nargis damaged hundreds of houses and knocked out electricity to many areas, state-run television reported Sunday.

The military run Myaddy television station said Yangon, Irrawaddy, Bago, Karen and Mon states all were heavily damaged by Saturday's cyclone, which packed winds up to 120 mph.

Witnesses in Yangon said hundreds of houses had their roofs blown off and that the storm knocked out electricity as well as some phone service in much of the city.

"All the roads are blocked. There is no water. There is no electricity," said a United Nations official in Yangon, who requested anonymity because she was not authorized to speak to a reporter.

"It's a bad situation," she said. "Almost all the houses are smashed. People are in a terrible situation."

"I have never seen anything like it," one retired government worker told Reuters. "It reminded me of when Hurricane Katrina hit the United States."

Although the sun was shining by Sunday morning, the former capital was without power and water.

It remains to be seen what impact the storm will have on a referendum on an army-drafted constitution scheduled for May 10.