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Burma declares cyclone disaster | |
(about 13 hours later) | |
Burma has declared five regions as disaster areas, including the main city Rangoon, after a large tropical cyclone hit the country, state media report. | |
The military-run Myaddy television station said Irrawaddy, Bago, Karen and Mon states were also hit hard by winds of about 190km/h (120mph). | |
Cyclone Nargis is reported to have killed at least four people in Rangoon. | |
The city is without power and water, and the streets are full of debris from fallen trees and damaged buildings. | |
The cyclone is now moving into Thailand where storm warnings have been issued. | |
However, it appears to be lessening in force. | |
'Lot of damage' | |
Internet and phone connections have been down since the storm neared the former Burmese capital, making it difficult to confirm the extent of the damage. | |
In the Irrawaddy river delta, more than half of the buildings had been damaged or had collapsed, official newspapers reported. | |
Official media also reported that four vessels had sunk in Rangoon harbour. | |
A UN regional official told Reuters news agency it would take several days to assess the scale of the damage. | |
"There does not seem to be a high number of casualties but for sure there is a lot of damage to property and infrastructure," Therje Skavdal said, speaking from Bangkok. | |
Military and police units have been deployed in Rangoon to help clear up the damage, an official at the information ministry said. | |
"So far we know there were casualties [deaths], but we cannot release the details yet as we are still collecting information," he told AFP news agency. | |
News of the four deaths in Rangoon was reported in state newspapers. | |
'Like Katrina' | |
A UN official, speaking anonymously, told The Associated Press: | |
Where are all those uniformed people who are always ready to beat civilians? They should come out... and help clean up... Rangoon trishaw driver | |
"It's a bad situation. Almost all the houses are smashed. People are in a terrible situation. | |
"All the roads are blocked. There is no water. There is no electricity." | |
Many roofs were reportedly ripped off even sturdy buildings in Rangoon. | |
"I have never seen anything like it," one retired government worker told Reuters. | |
"It reminded me of when Hurricane Katrina hit the United States." | |
A trishaw driver in Rangoon, who did not want to be identified, complained that the security forces were not doing enough to help. | |
"Where are all those uniformed people who are always ready to beat civilians?" he said. | |
"They should come out in full force and help clean up the areas and restore electricity." |