Typhoon Yagi has caused severe devastation in Myanmar, with state media reporting at least 74 deaths and numerous people still missing. The storm has triggered heavy flooding and landslides that have affected over 450 villages and wards across the country. Current efforts are focused on locating 89 individuals who remain unaccounted for, while around 65,000 homes have been reported as destroyed.
In Taungoo, a city situated south of the capital Naypyidaw, visuals reveal widespread damage, with homes and vehicles submerged under water. Residents are seen evacuating using boats and bamboo rafts, attempting to salvage their belongings. The scale of destruction has prompted urgent search and rescue operations.
Typhoon Yagi, recognized as the most powerful storm in Asia this year, has left a trail of destruction throughout Southeast Asia and southern China. The storm’s impact has been extensive, contributing to significant loss of life and damage in the region. In Vietnam, the disaster has claimed at least 226 lives due to the storm and resulting landslides and flash floods.
Thailand has also been affected, with nine deaths reported last week related to the typhoon’s weather conditions. 33 deaths have been attributed to rain-related incidents in the country since August. Scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating the intensity and severity of storms, with developing nations and small island states bearing the brunt of these increasingly severe weather events.