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| Burma cyclone death toll 'at 243' | Burma cyclone death toll 'at 243' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A tropical cyclone has killed at least 243 people in Burma and damaged thousands of buildings, according to state television. | A tropical cyclone has killed at least 243 people in Burma and damaged thousands of buildings, according to state television. |
| Parts of the Irrawaddy region were hit particularly badly, with three out of four buildings blown down in one district. | Parts of the Irrawaddy region were hit particularly badly, with three out of four buildings blown down in one district. |
| Burma has declared Irrawaddy and four other regions, including the main city Rangoon, to be disaster areas. | Burma has declared Irrawaddy and four other regions, including the main city Rangoon, to be disaster areas. |
| Rangoon has been without power and water, its streets full of debris. | Rangoon has been without power and water, its streets full of debris. |
| Winds of about 190km/h (120mph) battered the Irrawaddy, Rangoon, Bago, Karen and Mon regions. | Winds of about 190km/h (120mph) battered the Irrawaddy, Rangoon, Bago, Karen and Mon regions. |
| Military and police personnel have been carrying out rescue operations | Military and police personnel have been carrying out rescue operations |
| Cyclone Nargis has since moved towards Thailand where storm warnings have been issued. However, it appears to be lessening in force. | Cyclone Nargis has since moved towards Thailand where storm warnings have been issued. However, it appears to be lessening in force. |
| Phone links down | Phone links down |
| In Irrawaddy's Labutta township, 75% of buildings collapsed and 20% had their roofs ripped off, state TV said. | In Irrawaddy's Labutta township, 75% of buildings collapsed and 20% had their roofs ripped off, state TV said. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Footage of the damage caused by the cyclone | Footage of the damage caused by the cyclone |
| In the Irrawaddy delta region as a whole, the cyclone brought down more than 20,000 houses. | In the Irrawaddy delta region as a whole, the cyclone brought down more than 20,000 houses. |
| In Rangoon, internet and phone connections have been down since the storm drew near, making it difficult to confirm the extent of the damage. | In Rangoon, internet and phone connections have been down since the storm drew near, making it difficult to confirm the extent of the damage. |
| Official media report that four people were killed and four vessels sank in the former Burmese capital's harbour. | Official media report that four people were killed and four vessels sank in the former Burmese capital's harbour. |
| A UN regional official told Reuters news agency it would take several days to assess the scale of the damage. | 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. | "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. |
| 'Like Katrina' | 'Like Katrina' |
| One unnamed Rangoon resident described the damage in the city for the BBC Burmese service. | |
| "Everything was wrecked," he said. | |
| "Roofs of the houses and satellite dishes were blown away. Windows were broken at Yuzana Plaza. Roadside billboards were all blown away... Everything is in a mess." | |
| Many roofs were reportedly ripped off even sturdy buildings in Rangoon. | Many roofs were reportedly ripped off even sturdy buildings in Rangoon. |
| "I have never seen anything like it," one retired government worker told Reuters. | "I have never seen anything like it," one retired government worker told Reuters. |
| "It reminded me of when Hurricane Katrina hit the United States." | "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. | 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. | "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." | "They should come out in full force and help clean up the areas and restore electricity." |
| Are you in Burma? Have you been affected by the cyclone? Send your comments and pictures using the post form below: | Are you in Burma? Have you been affected by the cyclone? Send your comments and pictures using the post form below: |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |