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Death toll from Myanmar cyclone jumps to 28,000

The death toll from the catastrophic cyclone that has gripped the state of Myanmar has risen to 28,458, state television reported on Sunday.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 18:04 May 11, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Aid agencies say it could be a medical catastrophe if people do not get clean water or sanitation
  • Image Credit: AP
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Yangon: The death toll from the catastrophic cyclone that has gripped the state of Myanmar has risen to 28,458, state television reported on Sunday.

The latest figures depict a leap of about 5,000.

However, international aid agencies have said the death toll could eventually be higher than 100,000 as conditions continue to deteriorate.

British aid group Oxfam said the death toll could multiply by up to 15 times, or rise to 1.5 million, if people do not get clean water and sanitation soon, which could result in a medical catastrophe.

International aid slowly began reaching Myanmar's victims as the military government loosened its tight policies over allowing foreign aid.

But, almost all foreign aid workers have been barred from entering the isolated nation, which insists on distributing all relief supplies on their own.

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