At least 74 people have been confirmed dead in Myanmar following severe flooding and landslides triggered by Typhoon Yagi, state media reported.
The devastating storm has left scores of people missing, with search and rescue efforts still underway across the affected regions.
The heavy flooding has impacted over 450 villages and wards throughout the country, according to reports from the Myanmar News Agency (MNA).
Authorities are currently searching for 89 people who remain unaccounted for, while approximately 65,000 homes have been destroyed by the storm.
In the city of Taungoo, located just south of the capital Naypyidaw, images revealed submerged houses and vehicles, with residents seen evacuating in boats and makeshift bamboo rafts.
Many displaced residents have sought refuge in temporary camps, where long lines have formed for essential supplies such as food.
Typhoon Yagi, regarded as Asia’s most powerful storm this year, has wreaked havoc across Southeast Asia, leaving widespread destruction in its wake.
The storm also heavily impacted neighboring countries, including Vietnam and Thailand, where it caused further fatalities and severe weather conditions.
In Vietnam, the storm’s death toll has climbed to at least 226, with flash floods and landslides adding to the devastation, according to government reports.
Meanwhile, in Thailand, nine lives were lost last week due to the storm, adding to the total of 33 deaths across the country from rain-related incidents since August.
Scientists have long cautioned that climate change, driven by a warming ocean, is intensifying storms and making them deadlier.
While wealthier nations bear a larger historical responsibility for climate change, developing countries like Myanmar are disproportionately experiencing its most severe effects.
