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| Burmese storm toll 'tops 10,000' | Burmese storm toll 'tops 10,000' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| More than 10,000 people were killed in a devastating cyclone that hit western Burma on Saturday, Foreign Minister Nyan Win has said on state TV. | More than 10,000 people were killed in a devastating cyclone that hit western Burma on Saturday, Foreign Minister Nyan Win has said on state TV. |
| He said his government was ready to accept international assistance. Aid shipments are now being prepared. | |
| Thousands of survivors of Cyclone Nargis are lacking shelter, drinking water, power and communications, but in many regions help has not yet arrived. | Thousands of survivors of Cyclone Nargis are lacking shelter, drinking water, power and communications, but in many regions help has not yet arrived. |
| Five regions in which 24 million people live have been declared disaster zones. | Five regions in which 24 million people live have been declared disaster zones. |
| Expressing his sadness at the scale of the disaster, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon confirmed that UN officials were meeting Burmese government representatives to discuss how to help. | Expressing his sadness at the scale of the disaster, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon confirmed that UN officials were meeting Burmese government representatives to discuss how to help. |
| If the toll is confirmed, Nargis is now the world's deadliest storm since a 1999 cyclone in India killed 10,000 people. | If the toll is confirmed, Nargis is now the world's deadliest storm since a 1999 cyclone in India killed 10,000 people. |
| Nargis hit the south-east Asian country on Saturday with wind speeds reaching 190km/h (120mph). It brought with it a sea surge that smashed through towns and villages. | |
| Crucial test for juntaIn pictures: Burmese clean-upTimeline: Major tropical cyclones | Crucial test for juntaIn pictures: Burmese clean-upTimeline: Major tropical cyclones |
| Earlier on Monday, the death toll was being put at 351 but the foreign minister later went on TV to announce the figure of at least 10,000. | Earlier on Monday, the death toll was being put at 351 but the foreign minister later went on TV to announce the figure of at least 10,000. |
| With information still coming in, he warned the toll could yet rise. | With information still coming in, he warned the toll could yet rise. |
| The towns of Bogalay and Laputta, in the region of Irrawaddy, are among those locations particularly badly hit, state media have reported. | The towns of Bogalay and Laputta, in the region of Irrawaddy, are among those locations particularly badly hit, state media have reported. |
| None of the casualty figures have been independently confirmed. | None of the casualty figures have been independently confirmed. |
| The BBC is not permitted to report from Burma, also known as Myanmar. | The BBC is not permitted to report from Burma, also known as Myanmar. |
| Houses 'skeletal' | Houses 'skeletal' |
| Thousands of buildings have been flattened, power lines downed, trees uprooted, roads blocked and water supplies disrupted. | Thousands of buildings have been flattened, power lines downed, trees uprooted, roads blocked and water supplies disrupted. |
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| Aerial footage of the cyclone aftermath | Aerial footage of the cyclone aftermath |
| A Rangoon resident who spoke to relatives in Laputta told BBC Burmese that 75% to 80% of the town had been destroyed. | A Rangoon resident who spoke to relatives in Laputta told BBC Burmese that 75% to 80% of the town had been destroyed. |
| Houses along the coast had been reduced to skeletal structures, 16 villages had been virtually wiped out and no help had reached Laputta, he said. | Houses along the coast had been reduced to skeletal structures, 16 villages had been virtually wiped out and no help had reached Laputta, he said. |
| Pictures on state TV show security services working to clear roads but in Rangoon and elsewhere there are complaints that the response to the disaster has been weak. | Pictures on state TV show security services working to clear roads but in Rangoon and elsewhere there are complaints that the response to the disaster has been weak. |
| An eyewitness describes the cyclone | An eyewitness describes the cyclone |
| "Where are the soldiers and police? They were very quick and aggressive when there were protests in the streets last year," a retired government worker complained to Reuters news agency. | "Where are the soldiers and police? They were very quick and aggressive when there were protests in the streets last year," a retired government worker complained to Reuters news agency. |
| He was referring to protests led by Buddhist monks last year that were quickly put down. | He was referring to protests led by Buddhist monks last year that were quickly put down. |
| Earlier, a BBC journalist monitoring the situation in Burma from Bangkok, Soe Win, said the shortages of power and water were particularly critical. | Earlier, a BBC journalist monitoring the situation in Burma from Bangkok, Soe Win, said the shortages of power and water were particularly critical. |
| Local people were saying that if the situation continued for another two or three days, it would be really difficult for them, he reported. | Local people were saying that if the situation continued for another two or three days, it would be really difficult for them, he reported. |
| Aid assessment | Aid assessment |
| Several hundred thousand people are in need of shelter and clean drinking water, UN disaster response official Richard Horsey said. | Several hundred thousand people are in need of shelter and clean drinking water, UN disaster response official Richard Horsey said. |
| DEADLIEST RECENT STORMS Hurricane Katrina, US, 2005 - at least 1,836 deadOrissa Cyclone, 1999, Northern India - at least 10,000 deadHurricane Mitch, 1998, Central America - at least 11,000 deadTyphoon Thelma, 1991, Philippines - 6,000 deadBangladesh cyclone, 1991 - about 138,000 deadBhola cyclone, 1970 - at least 300,000 dead | DEADLIEST RECENT STORMS Hurricane Katrina, US, 2005 - at least 1,836 deadOrissa Cyclone, 1999, Northern India - at least 10,000 deadHurricane Mitch, 1998, Central America - at least 11,000 deadTyphoon Thelma, 1991, Philippines - 6,000 deadBangladesh cyclone, 1991 - about 138,000 deadBhola cyclone, 1970 - at least 300,000 dead |
| But damage to roads and communications mean it is impossible to tell the true extent of the situation, he added. | But damage to roads and communications mean it is impossible to tell the true extent of the situation, he added. |
| Prices of food, fuel and basic necessities have also risen dramatically. | Prices of food, fuel and basic necessities have also risen dramatically. |
| The UN and international aid agencies are sending assessment teams to the worst-hit areas and shipments are being prepared. | |
| Thailand has announced it is flying in a transport plane loaded with nine tonnes of food and medicines and India is sending two naval ships carrying food, tents, blankets, clothing and medicines. | Thailand has announced it is flying in a transport plane loaded with nine tonnes of food and medicines and India is sending two naval ships carrying food, tents, blankets, clothing and medicines. |
| The US, which released an immediate funding package of $250,000 (£127,000) to be channelled through the UN, said that Burmese authorities had refused permission for an American disaster assistance response team to enter. | |
| Meanwhile, Burma's military junta has said a referendum on a new national constitution will go ahead on Saturday. People were "eagerly looking forward to voting", it said. | Meanwhile, Burma's military junta has said a referendum on a new national constitution will go ahead on Saturday. People were "eagerly looking forward to voting", it said. |
| But some people are now wondering if this natural disaster could have serious political repercussions, reports the BBC's Andrew Harding in the Thai capital Bangkok. | |
| Are you in Burma, or do you have friends and family there? Have you - or they - been affected by the cyclone? Send your comments and pictures using the post form below: | Are you in Burma, or do you have friends and family there? Have you - or they - been affected by the cyclone? Send your comments and pictures using the post form below: |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or 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. |