Burma,
Updated 22 minutes ago


More than 90,000 people have been left homeless, with tens of thousands of homes destroyed by the cyclone. [Reuters]
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The Burmese military authorities say more than 350 people have been killed by a powerful cyclone that hit the Irrawaddy delta region on Saturday.

State television says more than 90,000 people have been left homeless, with tens of thousands of homes destroyed by Cyclone Nargis.

The government has declared disaster areas in parts of the south and centre of the country.

Electricity and phone links are still cut off in most parts of the Burmese capital, Rangoon, and an eyewitness says water supplies have also been badly hit.

"Rangoon is completely cut-off, no water, the roads are blocked, it's difficult to travel," he said.

"Everything has become so expensive. I think the main water supply has dried up. Even if we use our own pumps we can't get any water out of the mains. We can't even take a shower."

Rangoon vote


The cyclone brought down power and phone lines, cutting off the military-run nation one week before a crucial referendum on its new constitution - the first polling in Burma since general elections in 1990.

In Rangoon, traffic lights, billboards and street lamps littered the roads after being knocked over by strong winds.

Trees in the leafy city were uprooted, crushing buildings and cars, while water pipes were also cut, forcing people out onto the streets with buckets to try and buy water from the few shops that remained open.

Roofs of houses have been torn away, while only a few taxis and buses - which tripled their fares - braved the debris-clogged streets on Sunday.

Electricity supplies and telecommunications in Rangoon have been cut since late Friday night as the storm bore down from the Bay of Bengal, packing winds of 190-240 kilometres an hour.

There are also fears that the poorer outlying areas of Rangoon, with their flimsy houses, might have been hard hit.
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We have been to Burma 3 times and the hardship and povety that is within that country makes us who live on pensions in the west seem like millionares.
They are such a gentle beautiful people, the homes most live in are little better than palm fond and bamboo one room shacks. In the larger areas there are more "normal" housing.
So you can imagine just how devistating a cyclone can be.
blessings and thanks for your prayers xxxxxxx

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