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Burma battered by tropical storm Burma declares cyclone disaster
(about 13 hours later)
A severe tropical storm has caused extensive damage to Burma's commercial capital, Rangoon. Burma has declared five regions as disaster areas, including the main city Rangoon, after a large tropical cyclone hit the country, state media report.
Cyclone Nargis hit the Irrawaddy Delta region with winds of about 190km/h (120mph) late on Friday. The military-run Myaddy television station said Irrawaddy, Bago, Karen and Mon states were also hit hard by winds of about 190km/h (120mph).
The storm brought down trees and power lines, and tore the roofs from buildings, eyewitnesses in Rangoon say. Telecommunications have been disrupted. Cyclone Nargis is reported to have killed at least four people in Rangoon.
Three people are reported to have died in the storm's early stages, but there are no details of further casualties. The city is without power and water, and the streets are full of debris from fallen trees and damaged buildings.
State TV and radio stations were off air in Rangoon on Saturday and public transport was disrupted. The cyclone is now moving into Thailand where storm warnings have been issued.
"Everything was wrecked. The roofs of houses and satellite dishes were blown away," one resident told the BBC's Burmese service. However, it appears to be lessening in force.
"The satellite dishes on the roof of the UNDP office were also blown away. Everything is in a mess." 'Lot of damage'
Details of damage elsewhere in the country have been limited because telephone and internet connections to Burma have been badly disrupted. 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.
While there have been no official reports of deaths, dock workers told AP news agency that three women had drowned when their boat capsized trying to cross a canal late on Friday. 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."