At least 5 dead after Cyclone Mocha hits Myanmar

Damage and at least five deaths have been reported, but the true impact was not yet clear in one of Asia’s least developed countries.

Strong winds injured more than 700 of about 20,000 people who were sheltering in sturdier buildings on the highlands of Sittwe township such as monasteries, pagodas and schools, according to a leader of the Rakhine Youths Philanthropic Association in Sittwe.

He asked not to be named due to fear of reprisals from the authorities in the military-run country.

Seawater raced into more than 10 low-lying wards near the shore as Cyclone Mocha made landfall in Rakhine state Sunday afternoon, he said.

Residents moved to roofs and higher floors, while the wind and storm surge prevented immediate rescue.

Water was still about 1.5 meters high in flooded areas Monday morning, but rescues were being made as the wind calmed and the sun rose in the sky.

At least five deaths have been reported in Myanmar by local media and rescue groups.

Several injuries were reported in neighbouring Bangladesh, which was spared the predicted direct hit.

Mocha made landfall near Sittwe township with winds blowing up to 209 kilometres (130 miles) per hour, Myanmar’s Meteorological Department said.

By Monday morning, it was downgraded from its severe status and was steadily weakening over land, according to the India Meteorological Department.

The State Administration Council issued disaster declarations for 17 townships in Rakhine state.

High winds crumpled cell phone towers, but in videos collected by local media before communications were lost, deep water raced through streets and wind blew off roofs.

Myanmar’s military information office said the storm had damaged houses and electrical transformers in Sittwe, Kyaukpyu, and Gwa townships.

It said roofs were torn off buildings on the Coco Islands, about 425 kilometres  southwest of the country’s largest city, Yangon.

Reuters