Myanmar Govt. Now Estimates Typhoon Death Toll At 10,000 - AFP

[hatrack]

Myanmar said Monday that more than 10,000 people had been killed in the cyclone that tore into the impoverished and secretive Asian nation at the weekend, and tens of thousands more may also have died. Faced with the devastation, Foreign Minister Nyan Win said his reclusive nation would welcome international aid, as neighbouring countries and the United Nations said they were ready to assist in the recovery.

State television showed images of entire communities that had flooded since Tropical Cyclone Nargis struck late Friday. Earlier, state media said tens of thousands of people may have been killed in the township of Bogalay alone.

"We will welcome help ... from other countries, because our people are in difficulty," Nyan Win said.

The United Nations said hundreds of thousands of people had been left homeless when the storm, packing winds of 190 kilometres (120 miles) per hour, ripped through the countryside, destroying entire villages in its fury.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/2007/080505161952.c3k0qaml.html

[phantom power]

1. It looked bad on approach. Turned out to be even worse.