Myanmar death toll increases to almost 4,000

Yangon: Almost 4,000 people have been left dead, and close to 3,000 are missing following the devastating cyclone that struck Myanmar on Saturday, state televison reported on Monday.

An evening news report placed the confirmed number of dead at 3,934, with 41 injured and 2,879 missing.

Myanmar's military leaders were expected to issue a rare request for international emergency assistance on Monday after a cyclone devastated the nation.

Aid agencies rushed emergency food and water into Myanmar where Cyclone Nargis left more than 350 people dead and thousands homeless.

The government of neighbouring Thailand said the first plane-load of supplies was due to arrive Tuesday.

A spokesman for the Red Cross said the emergency aid group was working with its Myanmar agency to provide drinking water, temporary shelters and blankets and warned that urgent action was needed to limit outbreaks of disease.

"I think one of the biggest needs right now is to stave off disease," said spokesman Eric Porterfield. "We will be helping with the distribution of clean drinking water and setting up shelters."

Relief agencies met at the United Nations' Bangkok headquarters Monday to coordinate their response to the disaster.

State media said 20,000 homes were destroyed after Cyclone Nargis slammed Irrawaddy delta on Saturday. On the island of Haingyi, some 90,000 people were left homeless.

In Yangon, 19 people were reported dead, with 222 more killed in the delta. The death toll is likely to climb as authorities slowly make contact with islands and villages.

"The government is having as much trouble as anyone else in getting a full overview. Roads are not accessible and many small villages were hit and will take time to reach," said Terje Skavdal, regional head of UN office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Teams of foreign aid workers were trying to assess the damage and aid needs, but their access and movements are restricted by the military.

"That is the existing situation for international staff. The way most agencies work is they use national staff who have more freedom to move," Skavdal said.