Media: Nargis deadliest storm this century

[Grant]

Figures update 15,000 reported dead with a further 15,000 missing. More than 15,000 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, and aid shipments were 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.

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.

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).

Some pictures of the clean-up: BBC NEWS | In Pictures | In pictures: Burmese clean-up
Original article when it first struck: BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Hundreds killed by Burma cyclone

Also, how hurricanes form: BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Animated guide: Hurricanes

Report from the Guardian: Death toll in Burma cyclone disaster reaches 4,000 | World news | guardian.co.uk
Report from the Telegraph: Burma cyclone death toll nears 4,000 - Telegraph

[ATO2]

I hear the death toll now over 22,000. Plus the rulers of the country are dragging the chain with issuing visas for aid workers!
Many years since I went to Burma.

[Grant]

Current reports put the death toll in excess of 100,000 for this cyclone Nargis

[ATO2]

When you think of how difficult it can be to respond to major weather events in the 21st century, it makes one wonder how our ancestors ever survived such things.The human misery in Burma, is now compounded by its regime which adds to the tragic situation.

[Grant]

The first (and currently only) UN aid flight has now been allowed into Burma.

[Grant]

The World Food Programme has halted aid shipments to Burma after the contents of its first delivery were impounded on arrival in the military-ruled country.

The UN body says the Burmese government seized tonnes of aid material flown in to help victims of Cyclone Nargis, which has killed tens of thousands. The WFP said it had no choice but to halt aid until the matter was resolved. Burma's ruling generals have faced mounting criticism over their handling of the crisis. The UN fears more than 1.5 million people have been affected by the cyclone, with tens of thousands made homeless and vulnerable to disease.

BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Burma impounds UN aid deliveries

[ATO2]

Damn! Democracy may be idiotic and appear feeble at times but in the end it is far more powerful than ruthless dictatorships. It would be nice to say "hopefully, the regime will fall and the people will be taken care of" but I don't think that will happen.

[Dollsworth]

This is an interesting video to watch: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7385352.stm

It shows Satellite images of the Burma storm as it approached then made landfall, from 12noon Local Time on Friday to 12noon Local time on Saturday, presented by BBC Meteorologist, Alex Deakin.