At least 74 people have tragically lost their lives in Myanmar due to heavy flooding and landslides caused by Typhoon Yagi. The devastating impact of the flooding has left scores of individuals missing, with search and rescue operations currently underway to locate 89 people who are still unaccounted for. More than 450 villages and wards have been affected by the flooding, leading to the destruction of approximately 65,000 homes.
The city of Taungoo, located an hour south of the capital Naypyidaw, has been particularly hard hit, with images showing submerged homes and vehicles. Residents have been forced to evacuate using boats and bamboo rafts, carrying their belongings in plastic bags to seek safety.
Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful storm in Asia this year, has caused widespread destruction across Southeast Asia and southern China, bringing heavy rains and strong winds in its wake. In Vietnam, the death toll has climbed to at least 226, with landslides and flash floods contributing to the loss of lives. Similarly, in Thailand, nine individuals have lost their lives due to severe weather conditions linked to the typhoon.
Scientists have long warned that warming oceans are intensifying storms, making them more destructive and deadly. While developed nations bear a significant historical responsibility for the human-induced climate crisis, it is the developing nations and small island states that are bearing the brunt of these impacts.
