Official Cyclone Mocha death toll in Myanmar rises to 145

NGOs say relief efforts were stalled as they awaited permission from the military to deploy resources to the affected regions [Reuters]

At least 145 people were killed when Cyclone Mocha hit the country this week, Myanmar’s ruling military has said.

The impoverished western state of Rakhine bore the brunt of the storm that on Sunday tore down houses, communication towers and bridges with winds of up to 210 kilometres per hour (130 miles per hour), and triggered a storm surge that inundated the state capital Sittwe.