Burma’s cyclone death toll soars
The death toll from Burma’s devastating cyclone has now risen to more than 22,000, state media have said.
Another 41,000 are missing three days after Cyclone Nargis hit the country, causing a huge tidal surge to sweep inland, according to state radio.
The report came as aid agencies begin what they expect to be a major relief operation to help hundreds of thousands left without clean water and shelter.
Burma’s government has been criticised over its handling of the crisis.
A number of Burmese nationals and some foreigners have said they had not been properly warned by the country’s military leaders about the approaching storm.
Some witnesses have also said the government’s response to the disaster has so far been slow and inadequate.
US President George W Bush has urged the military leadership to give access to American disaster assessment teams, saying his country was ready to use its navy “to help find the missing, to help stabilise the situation”.
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