Myanmar victims push Southeast Asian death toll from Typhoon Yagi past 500

Flooding affects an estimated 631,000 people across the country

Residents wade through flooding at a broken bridge in Myanmar's capital, Naypyitaw, on Sept. 17. © AP

September 17, 2024 22:31 JST

BANGKOK (AP) -- Floods and landslides in Myanmar triggered by last week's Typhoon Yagi and seasonal monsoon rains have claimed at least 226 lives, with 77 people missing, state-run media reported Tuesday. The new figures push the total number of dead in Southeast Asia from the storm past 500.

The accounting of casualties has been slow, in part due to communication difficulties with the affected areas. Myanmar is wracked by a civil war that began in 2021 after the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Independent analysts believe the ruling military controls much less than half of the country's territory.